Comments on: An Interview With Gordon Hinckley

A Look Back At Mike Wallace's 1996 Interview With The President Of The Mormon Church

[vito98103]

Yet another on the lips Mike Wallace piece on the Mormons - what is it with him? 20% of the whole story at best - the LDS has a very good PR operation, but are in fact a very strange group (ask what ''milk before meat'' means). In fact, there were many years when they claimed to not be Christian - until ol'' Mitt decided to make a run for it. Good thing Romney is DOA - maybe not as he''d be easy to beat in November. McClain won''t be that tough either.

[vito98103]

Yet another on the lips Mike Wallace piece on the Mormons - what is it with him? 20% of the whole story at best - the LDS has a very good PR operation, but are in fact a very strange group (ask what ''milk before meat'' means). Good thing Romney is DOA - maybe not as he''d be easy to beat in November. McClain won''t be that tough either.

[bigball1232]

My 18 years of being Mormon were beyond horrible. No one can live up to the standards that the Mormon Church sets. It%u2019s impossible, and if you think it is you%u2019re kidding yourself to be relieved from the guilt and shame they put upon anyone who sins. We all sin, ALL of us. And if you actually admit that you''ve sinned, they don''t embrace and help you, they punish, humiliate and even excommunicate. The Jesus that is talked about in the bible, the one that died on the cross for us sinners, the one that came to convict not condemn, is not present in the Mormon church. I cried each night in shame knowing that I could never be as good as I was "supposed" to be, that the Holy Spirit would leave me each time I needed him most. Until one day I was freed from all that, the day I met the Jesus from the bible, HE picked me up, held me, and told me that he died for my sins and I don''t need to cry anymore, that the gift of him dieing was mine for the taking, a wretch like me and he would never leave me, never forsake me! What a glorious day!Now I do my best to not sin only because I don''t want to disappoint my Lord and Savior, not because I fear He will leave me, but because I love Him, and when I fall short, He is there to pick me up and still loves me. You don''t need to allow your Mormon leaders to punish you anymore... See God, He is the one that saves!

[tedkenn1]

For the record let me state I was raised LDS (Mormon), I am no longer, and consider myself essentially agnostic. That fact and this particular stories subject matter have little to do with the following, except it hit a nerve and re-enforces what I have always felt about the media and 60 Minutes in particular.

Mike Wallace; what an incredibly arrogant, condescending, smug, pompous individual you are (in true 60 Minutes fashion)! Your group most certainly views the world in an elitist manner. If 60 minutes doesn%u2019t agree with someone or an organization, that / those person/s or organization is automatically relegated to a lower station of existence and treated as guilty until they prove themselves innocent (which they%u2019ll never accomplish because you are, after all, superior and HAVE CONTROL OVER THE EDIT BUTTON I might add).

Perhaps what you need to comprehend is that your not the %u201Cend all, be all%u201D regarding knowledge and intellect on this planet, no one needs to bow and grovel to your assumed greatness! Be I a common man or the most famous person on the planet, I would never submit / agree to an interview with you. My time is too valuable to me to be wasted.

Ted C. Kennedy / Visalia CA.

PS %u2013 By the way, I am very certain you would have treated the Pope in the same manner, if given the opportunity!

[tedkenn1]

For the record let me state I was raised LDS (Mormon), I am no longer, and consider myself essentially agnostic. That fact and this particular stories subject matter have little to do with the following, except it hit a nerve and re-enforces what I have always felt about the media and 60 Minutes in particular.

Mike Wallace; what an incredibly arrogant, condescending, smug, pompous individual you are (in true 60 Minutes fashion)! Your group most certainly views the world in an elitist manner. If 60 minutes doesn%u2019t agree with someone or an organization, that / those person/s or organization is automatically relegated to a lower station of existence and treated as guilty until they prove themselves innocent (which they%u2019ll never accomplish because you are, after all, superior and HAVE CONTROL OVER THE EDIT BUTTON I might add).

Perhaps what you need to comprehend is that your not the %u201Cend all, be all%u201D regarding knowledge and intellect on this planet, no one needs to bow and grovel to your assumed greatness! Be I a common man or the most famous person on the planet, I would never submit / agree to an interview with you. My time is too valuable to me to be wasted.

Ted C. Kennedy / Visalia CA.

PS %u2013 By the way, I am very certain you would have treated the Pope in the same manner, if given the opportunity!

[kurtfan3]

President Hinckley will be missed by many
WHY I BELIEVE... the reason I decided to join the Mormon church. As I was being taught the different principles of my new found beliefs, I did find it hard to believe many of them. The wonderful missionaries would explain very clearly the doctrines to the best of their knowledge, they would also allow for questions. This helped me to have a clear understanding of exactly what was being taught. When we would finish every discussion they would invite me to find out for myself if what they taught was true. They actually said they prefer I didn''t believe them, but that I pray to my Father in heaven and ask him to let me know if it is true. And sure enough i felt a feeling of peace very, very strong that I couldn''t deny. I have come to realize that the miracle of it all is the way God uses small and simple things to bring to pass his work. Joseph Smith was a young boy confused by the many religions of the day wondering which one was true. When he decided to follow what the bible says in James 1:5 if any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask God who giveth to men liberally and upbraideth not. Joseph Smith did that, he asked God which church was true hoping for an answer. I''m not sure how he was expecting his question to be answered, but I''m sure he didn''t expect to see God the father, and His son Jesus Christ to appear to him and tell him none of them were true. ASK GOD FOR YOURSELF.
Kurtis Alldrege, Pennsylvania

[kurtfan3]

President Hinckley will be missed by many
WHY I BELIEVE... the reason I decided to join the Mormon church. As I was being taught the different principles of my new found beliefs, I did find it hard to believe many of them. The wonderful missionaries would explain very clearly the doctrines to the best of their knowledge, they would also allow for questions. This helped me to have a clear understanding of exactly what was being taught. When we would finish every discussion they would invite me to find out for myself if what they taught was true. They actually said they prefer I didn''t believe them, but that I pray to my Father in heaven and ask him to let me know if it is true. And sure enough i felt a feeling of peace very, very strong that I couldn''t deny. I have come to realize that the miracle of it all is the way God uses small and simple things to bring to pass his work. Joseph Smith was a young boy confused by the many religions of the day wondering which one was true. When he decided to follow what the bible says in James 1:5 if any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask God who giveth to men liberally and upbraideth not. Joseph Smith did that, he asked God which church was true hoping for an answer. I''m not sure how he was expecting his question to be answered, but I''m sure he didn''t expect to see God the father, and His son Jesus Christ to appear to him and tell him none of them were true. ASK GOD FOR YOURSELF.

[squidly8]

tuckerndfw, just because someone claims their church is affiliated with a larger church doesn''t mean that the larger church recognizes them and most importantly doesn''t mean they approve of their works. The LDS church does not recognize these groups and therefore does not condone their practices. Why try to connect them when there is not a connection?

[sdhansen11]

I%u2019m an active Mormon, currently serving as an unpaid leader (all clergy are unpaid in our Church). In response to the Marriott comment above:

Mormons believe pornography is strictly evil; those who view it are barred from full participation in the Church. Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that "He that looketh upon a woman to lust after hath committed adultery already in his heart."

I disagree with Marriott''s decision to follow the trend of all major hotels (and most Mormons do) but, the reality is, if Marriot would have banned porn from his hotels, he most assuredly would have been attacked by the same people, this time claiming that Mormons believe in "controlling" peoples%u2019 lives.

The Bible teaches two ways to recognize true followers of Jesus: 1) they will be persecuted 2) their "fruits" will reveal them- in other words, they will actually follow the Lord''s teachings. We invite the world to %u201Ccheck us out.%u201D We don%u2019t have anything to hide and we will never back down from our knowledge of the truthfulness of our claims.

http://www.adherents.com/largecom/lds_dem.html

lds.org

[sdhansen11]

I%u2019m an active Mormon, currently serving as an unpaid leader (all clergy are unpaid in our Church). In response to the Marriott comment above:

Mormons believe pornography is strictly evil; those who view it are barred from full participation in the Church. Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that "He that looketh upon a woman to lust after hath committed adultery already in his heart."

I disagree with Marriott''s decision to follow the trend of all major hotels (and most Mormons do) but, the reality is, if Marriot would have banned porn from his hotels, he most assuredly would have been attacked by the same "Christians," this time claiming that Mormons believe in "controlling" peoples%u2019 lives or "cramming their religion down others'' throats." Unfortunately, even in a civilized country like the United States, there are still a lot of bigots out there, and they just love to pick on the Mormons and twist things to make us look bad%u2014this is another example. True followers of Christ are always persecuted, so Mormons are not surprised%u2014though they have suffered and are still hurt and saddened when falsely attacked.

The Bible teaches two ways to recognize true followers of Jesus: 1) they will be persecuted 2) their "fruits" will reveal them- in other words, they will actually follow the Lord''s teachings:

http://www.adherents.com/largecom/lds_dem.html

[squidly8]

Mayodenv, let me tell you what it is now which is what is the most important. There are NO race restrictions on gaining the priesthood in the LDS church. I will be willing to put my congregation up against any other for its level of diversity. We have natives of the US (obviously), Canada, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Guatamala, Guyana, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Jamaica, Togo, Ghana, Spain, Portugal, England, Laos, Japan, Tonga and China. Your argument about the past might be right, might be wrong - however, what counts is now. There is a strength in the diversity of our congregation that is recognized by all. You are welcome anytime.

[mayodenv]

The Mormon Church''s claim that blacks could not be priest was exposed years ago when Paul Sterwart, director of Black America West museum in Denver, showed the church a book published in the 1800''s which showed a picture of a black priest named Elijah Able. Shortly thereafter, there was a "revelation from above'' that allowed them to change their policy. That is just one of the many deceptions of this church.

[pihanakapono]

To those who label the LDS church a %u201Ccult%u201D: prophets, apostles, temple ordinances, etc. are only "cult" practices to those "orthodox" Christians today who either do not read or do not believe their own Bibles (remember Moses, Solomon%u2019s Temple, The 12 Apostles?). And to those who are offended by the belief that Christ and Satan are brothers and both created by God: if Satan was not created by God, then who created him? Do you not believe that God is the creator of all things? Do you believe there is some other Creator who created Satan? Further, to those who cannot accept that man was placed on this earth to learn, grow and to someday become as his own Father in Heaven: is there any example in the natural universe where offspring are NOT inherently endowed with the ability, and even destiny, to become as their parents? If we truly are all children of God, it can only be in our "DNA" to someday become as God is. Of course, not every acorn becomes a mighty oak: we must %u201Cplant ourselves%u201D in %u201Cgood soil%u201D and seek truth and light all the days of our lives. This is the beauty that the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ brings to the world, and is why this Gospel is destined to roll forth and fill the world. In the end, truth will always overcome error and love will always overcome hatred. If you are a humble follower of Christ, you will find yourself very much at home in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Peace to you%u2026

[pihanakapono]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is not and never was meant to be an "orthodox" Christian religion, as judged by man''s standards. It was established by the Lord in these modern times through revelation to a modern prophet as a "restoration" of Christ''s original church, this because the "orthodox" Christianity of the times had strayed so far from the path trod by Christ--perverting Christ''s pure and simple doctrines, persecuting heretics, amassing treasure and waging war on non-Christians. Is it any wonder God would no longer recognize such churches? The long-foretold Restoration of Christ''s church did take place, and priesthood authority and true doctrine was restored. No longer did parents need to mourn the loss of a child in infancy, for example, who under "orthodox" teaching was consigned to hell if not baptized. The true teaching of Christ--that any child who dies is received to paradise, for they are innocent and have no need of baptism%u2014was once again restored to the earth, offering truth and light in place of gloom and error.

[squidly8]

BJ19, the group you refer to is the FUNDAMENTALIST Church of Jesus Christ of LDS. They are in NO way, NO shape, NO form a part of The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS. Although some people are simply misinformed, there are others that like to say that the FLDS church is part of the LDS church simply to spread misinformation. Let me make it as clear to you as possible:

THEY ARE IN NO WAY CONNECTED TO THE LDS CHURCH

you may want to believe they are - but that doesn''t make it true - you are lying to yourself.

[jjl1225]

If you do this I promise you that you will come to know as I know that while evil men may conspire to discredit the LDS church and its membership they can not destroy the truth.

[jjl1225]

After having read several of these comments I feel very inclined to encourage most of you to study and learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints before ever writing or opening your mouths to speak of it again. I don''t wish to comment on any specific doctrine of the church I simply wish to leave my testimony and witness of truth with you. I am a member of this church and I would have you know that I have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are infact christians in every sense of the word. Devout members of the church will seek in every way to exemplify christlike living. I know that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God. That through him the Church of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth. I bear my witness that Gordon B. Hinckley is a prophet of God and that he as the prophets of old was called of God to reveal His truth in these last days. I would encourage all who truly seek to know the truth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to heed the words of James as written in the Bible, "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and abraideth not, and it shall be given. But ask in faith nothing waivering..." If you want to know the truth seek it from the source of all truth but seek with real intent to know the truth not as the world would have it but as God would have it.

[blacknright]

this "story" is 12 years old. what is this, paid advertising by the mormans?

First of all it is Mormon, not morman. Next, all the church services are done by lay members. No one gets paid to do any service, so why would we seek out paid advertising, we got 50,000 free missionaries to do our advertising we don''t need to pay a website! We also have our own website if we wanted to "advertise." So learn some facts before you go spouting things you don''t know.

Lots of mormans have premarital *** (with themselves or others), many drink and some smoke. some get divorced and become serial polygamists.

And when it comes to the attention of the church they are dealt with. I know because I had such a dealing with the church in regards to my premarital activities. And I actually thank them for it. Holding me accountable is the best thing they could''ve done for me. For those who keep such activities a secret, it is not a secret from God and they will be dealt with accordingly in the after life.

[bj19491]

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, created a movie documentary expose'' in connection with members in the higher echelon of the Mormon Cult who know far more about their Religious Cult''s teachings than most Mormons. I suggest you see it! Mormonism teaches they can supposedly become Angels, that Jesus and Lucifer (Satan) were supposedly Brothers, and many other bizarre beliefs that are contrary to what the Bible teaches.

[bj19491]

If Religious Cult members leave, they are ostracized by other members. Consequently, they have a much higher suicide/murder rate than mainstream Christian Churches. The fathers are more likely to kill their entire family and then commit suidide, if ostracized by their Cult''s community.