When are you going to wake up? Mormons are NOT Christians! They believe Jesus was a man, who became a Mormon, had several wives, was the brother of Lucifer, and went on to another planet in another galaxy! This is fact as I studied with Mormon missionaries, priests and quote you the doctrines in their book of Mormon, By the way, they do not believe in the Bible either!! And they believe anyone not accepting Mormonism is going to hell-that probably includes you!
Your point about George Romney highlights the fact that the evangelical establishment has become so much stronger (especially within the republican party) in recent years. I think the right needs Romney to put the Mormon issue on the table so it's not red meat if he wins the nomination and goes against Obama. It will become a sticking point for sure, so better now than later... Although if now it might just boost Santorum to the nomination by voters on the far right, so he's darned if he does and darned if he doesn't :-)
The JFK comparison does not apply... it would be like comparing my community college education to Romney's Harvard degree.
JFK was a pew sitter. He is not known to have conducted Sunday School classes, he was not ordained, he was not an Elder or a Deacon that anyone is aware of, he attended church like a lot of people do, but comparing him to Romney?
Romney was raised by a fourth/fifth generation Mormon family. He father was a Stake President, his father's cousin was an Apostle, so he was indoctrinated every Sunday, and every day at home.
Romney is ordained. Romney attended Seminary. Romney went on a 30 month missionary assignment. Romney was a Bishop and Stake President.
Comparing JFK and the Pope question with Romney and the Utah mystic prophet can't be compared.
Romney can't help but bring his church's morals, philosophy and beliefs to the Oval Office.
Certainly, there are many difficult questions that we wrestle with concerning our faith. To deny this struggle is dishonest.
The question that I wrestle with personally is why our LDS leadership have been evasive about the truths in our faith that are the most important, at least to me, namely exaltation.
Inside the LDS Church, Gordon Hinckley was very clear about what we believe: "On the other hand, the whole design of the gospel is to lead us onward and upward to greater achievement, even, eventually, to godhood. This great possibility was enunciated by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the King Follet sermon; and emphasized by President Lorenzo Snow. It is this grand and incomparable concept: As God now is, man may become!"
However, when speaking to the press in 1997, Gordon Hinckley risked the appearance of equivocation. Why is it that even some of our leaders are evasive on this truth: "As man is, God once was; As God is, man may be."
Joseph Smith taught that: "First, God himself, who sits enthroned in yonder heaven, is a man like one of you. That is the great secret." "You have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you". And his teaching is indeed confirmed by Doctrine and Covenants 132:20.
We believe, based on Joseph Smith's revelations, that God the Father was not always a God, but was a man before he was exalted to godhood. Why is it that some of us seem embarrassed about that? I do not see that as something to be embarrassed about, but rather, an encouragement. For if God the Father was once a man, and was exalted to become a God, so too, I may be exalted to become a God.
So why not proclaim this truth instead of hiding it?
plenty of great things about Mormons and Mormon Church. However, the Book of Mormon is absurd! Basically says there were millions of Hebrews running around the New World couple thousand years ago who kept there holy writings in Egyptian. Like saying Western Europe was really settled by Chinese who kept their holy writings in Hindi. Silly book, but convinces people to join pyramid scheme. Also, well documented that Joseph Smith was a fraud who like the teenage wives of other men...here's 101 reasonable doubts about moromonism http://packham.n4m.org/101.htm
If you really want to know what Mormons believe and not the abundant hogwash of people who don't know what they are talking about on many posts, go lds.org or mormon.org or talk to the missionaries of the church.
I agree completely with bradoxn. Do not listen to the anti-LDS rantings by cr_commenter. Go directly to the source. Study the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, King Follett Discourse, and the Sermon in the Grove. LDS dot org and mormon dot org are also good resources. But keep in mind that initially what you read on those websites will sound very similar to Protestant or Catholic Christianity. Yes, we in the LDS *are* Christians, but Protestants and Catholics do *not* have the whole truth. This is where we look to Joseph Smith for the whole truth. Protestants and Catholics completely misunderstand and will miss out on exaltation. __________________________________________ "As man is, God once was; As God is, man may be."
Better yet, research the many artiles that can be found in abundance via your favorite search enginge, paying attention to the writings of former members. The statement of looking to Joseph Smith for the whole truth and the other references listed to nothing more than to assist the the definition of a cult.
Read through the posts in this news string and you can ascertain some of the hypnotism or amimal magnatism it produces.
Those not interested in religion may not care about this comment, so please be aware. If this makes you upset, please skip this comment. I'm not posting this to "force" my views on anyone (that's actually not biblical nor possible!), I only state this to illustrate why Mormonism is a cult from the Bible's perspective.
God is not, and never was man:
"God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19)
"God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Romans 3:4)
"God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)
"For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)
"But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Hebrews 2:6)
"For [he is] not a man, as I [am, that] I should answer him, [and] we should come together in judgment." (Job 9:32)
Man who claims he will be "like God" (or "a God") is the spirit of anti-christ who will be destroyed:
"Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I [am] God? but thou [shalt be] a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee." (Ezekiel 28:9)
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
The very things the Bible warns against are the things the Mormons believe. "Another Jesus" was created by the preaching of a "false angel" (Satan as an angel of light):
Galatians 1 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 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 3 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. 4 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].
The reason Mormon's believe they have "more" truth than the Bible is because they have additional books, a "wider authority" that structures their religion. As such, they reinterpret the Bible in light of the "newer" authority brought to them through Joseph Smith and his "visions of angels." This is how deception works -- they build up an entire system of thought based on some authority "in addition to" the Bible that causes them to reinterpret the Bible with greater weight on the "new" revelation. That's why they reinterpret the verses above to "mean something else" than what they say. They will have an answer for every verse I could possibly quote because they are "reinterpreted" by their "new and improved" revelation that causes them to reject the Bible alone as the sole Authority.
So, Mormons effectively deny the warning God gives at the close of the Bible:
Revelation 22 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.
This book is *not* just the book of Revelation, but the Bible ...
"Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me," (Psalm 40:7)
"Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God." (Hebrews 10:7)
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Eric
http://www.eacology.com/2012/02/are-mormons-such-as-mitt-romney.html
JFK was a pew sitter. He is not known to have conducted Sunday School classes, he was not ordained, he was not an Elder or a Deacon that anyone is aware of, he attended church like a lot of people do, but comparing him to Romney?
Romney was raised by a fourth/fifth generation Mormon family. He father was a Stake President, his father's cousin was an Apostle, so he was indoctrinated every Sunday, and every day at home.
Romney is ordained. Romney attended Seminary. Romney went on a 30 month missionary assignment. Romney was a Bishop and Stake President.
Comparing JFK and the Pope question with Romney and the Utah mystic prophet can't be compared.
Romney can't help but bring his church's morals, philosophy and beliefs to the Oval Office.
Do we want a cultist in the White House?
NoMormonInWhiteHouse blogspot com
a one hour video will teach you what most mormons do not know and are not allowed to discuss if they do know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXNeMYwEaIQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhzuEHPPZA0 (temple architecture video)
http://www.mazeministry.com/resources/books/doombook/doomtext/20architecture.htm (temple architecture and so much more written)
The question that I wrestle with personally is why our LDS leadership have been evasive about the truths in our faith that are the most important, at least to me, namely exaltation.
Inside the LDS Church, Gordon Hinckley was very clear about what we believe: "On the other hand, the whole design of the gospel is to lead us onward and upward to greater achievement, even, eventually, to godhood. This great possibility was enunciated by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the King Follet sermon; and emphasized by President Lorenzo Snow. It is this grand and incomparable concept: As God now is, man may become!"
However, when speaking to the press in 1997, Gordon Hinckley risked the appearance of equivocation. Why is it that even some of our leaders are evasive on this truth: "As man is, God once was; As God is, man may be."
Joseph Smith taught that: "First, God himself, who sits enthroned in yonder heaven, is a man like one of you. That is the great secret." "You have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you". And his teaching is indeed confirmed by Doctrine and Covenants 132:20.
We believe, based on Joseph Smith's revelations, that God the Father was not always a God, but was a man before he was exalted to godhood. Why is it that some of us seem embarrassed about that? I do not see that as something to be embarrassed about, but rather, an encouragement. For if God the Father was once a man, and was exalted to become a God, so too, I may be exalted to become a God.
So why not proclaim this truth instead of hiding it?
__________________________________________
"As man is, God once was; As God is, man may be."
Read through the posts in this news string and you can ascertain some of the hypnotism or amimal magnatism it produces.
God is not, and never was man:
"God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19)
"God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Romans 3:4)
"God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)
"For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)
"But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Hebrews 2:6)
"For [he is] not a man, as I [am, that] I should answer him, [and] we should come together in judgment." (Job 9:32)
Man who claims he will be "like God" (or "a God") is the spirit of anti-christ who will be destroyed:
"Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I [am] God? but thou [shalt be] a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee." (Ezekiel 28:9)
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
The very things the Bible warns against are the things the Mormons believe. "Another Jesus" was created by the preaching of a "false angel" (Satan as an angel of light):
Galatians 1
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
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
3 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.
4 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].
The reason Mormon's believe they have "more" truth than the Bible is because they have additional books, a "wider authority" that structures their religion. As such, they reinterpret the Bible in light of the "newer" authority brought to them through Joseph Smith and his "visions of angels." This is how deception works -- they build up an entire system of thought based on some authority "in addition to" the Bible that causes them to reinterpret the Bible with greater weight on the "new" revelation. That's why they reinterpret the verses above to "mean something else" than what they say. They will have an answer for every verse I could possibly quote because they are "reinterpreted" by their "new and improved" revelation that causes them to reject the Bible alone as the sole Authority.
So, Mormons effectively deny the warning God gives at the close of the Bible:
Revelation 22
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.
This book is *not* just the book of Revelation, but the Bible ...
"Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me," (Psalm 40:7)
"Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God." (Hebrews 10:7)
Jesus prayed unto His Father. Hebrews chap verse 3 Christ is like unto the Father. The Father is a glorified being
These all point to human characteristics