For Most, Mormonism Remains A Mystery

Romney's Religion In The Spotlight As The GOP Hopeful Prepares To Give A Speech On Faith

(AP) 
But the debate over the church's place in Christianity remains a sore spot for leaders who in 1995 altered the church logo to place more emphasis on the words "Jesus Christ" in its name.

The problem is that most evangelical Christians see Mormon doctrine, which stems from Smith, as "un-Biblical," said Robert Millet, a professor of religion at the church-owned Brigham Young University.

Aside from continuing revelation, there are a host of Mormon beliefs that evangelicals find hard to swallow. Mormons, for example, believe in a Heavenly Mother - God's female partner - a pre-existence in heaven before birth, a hereafter that includes a three-level heavenly kingdom. They wear religious undergarments that some say possess protective powers; they bar non-Mormons from entering their temples; practice posthumous baptism and believe that man can progress to a God-like state in Heaven.

Millet, who has spent much of the past decade working alongside evangelicals, said of those non-Mormons: "They would say, 'Look, it's not a bad idea, but it's not biblical. My comeback would be, the real question is whether or not it's true."

Other Christians also don't accept the Mormon contention that they are members of the "one true church," the authentic version of Christianity that Smith claimed to have restored to Earth at God's own direction.

Even language adds to the divide. Mormons refer to all non-Mormons, including Jews, as gentiles and call God "'Heavenly Father' as if 'Heavenly' were his first name," Balmer said. "Evangelicals just don't do that."

Another concern for some: that Mormon church presidents are held out as prophets with revelatory power that can alter the church's direction and beliefs.

Such revelations discontinued the practice of polygamy in 1890 and, in 1978, ended a ban on giving black men priesthood authority.

Said Mouw, "That notion that things can just get changed is scary for a lot of people who worry that a church with a very strong authority center could influence a public leader by suddenly getting a new revelation that has an impact on public policy."

Among non-Mormons, 62 percent think Mormonism is very different from their own religion, according to polling this summer by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center and Pew Forum. Some 53 percent said they had a favorable view of Mormons, compared with 76 percent who had favorable feelings toward Jews and Catholics, 60 percent for evangelical Christians, 43 percent for Muslims and 35 percent for atheists.

Fifty-two percent said they think Mormons are Christian.

[hardy8888]

The Mormon Magazine " LDS Living " was part of the Boston Globe story and there was some indication on the news that Matthew Kennedy was part of a national advisory team for Romney. Is there any connection between the LDS Living magazine, Kennedy, and the Church?

[khorn713]

Mormons are good people with good standards. I don''t think that Mitt should be judged by his religion, one thing I really like is that he is big on families, which does not seem to be important to the majority of American people. We need stronger families so that America doesn''t fall apart.

[gunownerdan]

Seems like once a cult gets enough followers, it can then be called a religion.
Mormonism has almost 6 million members in America, is this enough yet? If not how many more do they need?

[redfish251]

he could be the antichrist

[jordieb5]

Who cares what google says... I could type in Pathetic people... it has a list consisting of 452,000 you could be at the top of the list, does that mean you are pathetic... no! Just because someone can get mormons to the TOP of a list, doesn''t mean it is true. Obviously you are completely stupid and have no idea what christianity is.

According to dictionary.com this is what a christian is

1. of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings: a Christian faith.
2. of, pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ: Spain is a Christian country.
3. of or pertaining to Christians: many Christian deaths in the Crusades.
4. exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ; Christlike: She displayed true Christian charity.
5. decent; respectable: They gave him a good Christian burial.
6. human; not brutal; humane: Such behavior isn''t Christian.
%u2013noun 7. a person who believes in Jesus Christ; adherent of Christianity.
8. a person who exemplifies in his or her life the teachings of Christ: He died like a true Christian.

that is the truth. Since Mormons believe in christ, teach about christ, they are in fact Christians!

[anon_imus]

No matter what Romney says... He belongs to Mormonism also known as The Latter Day Saints, also known as LDS, which is classifed as a non-Christian cult worldwide.

For those who want the FACTS it''s simple... TYPE IN THE WORDS non-christian cults.

Like it or not, regardless of what Romney or anyone else says... Mormonism is at the top of the non-christian cult list consisting of 242,000 websites world wide on GOOGLE SEARCH

[jordieb5]

continued from below....


honestly most of you people are Completely stupid and need to stop hating on people that have a different view then you. How many times do you see a mormon writing some article about lets say... Catholics, and completely distorting everything they believe in. It is completely STUPID! If you want to know something about the mormon religion, why don''t you go talk to someone who has credit to actually be talking! Then if you don''t agree, fine they aren''t making you believe what they do. So all in all, go get a life. Just because people don''t believe the same as you doesn''t mean they are a cult. Heck they might as well be, and then they can take over the world!! WHOO HOO!!!
And why don''t we look at Romney for is political views. honestly I hope he wins office for president just so you people will see that he is a decent man. And aren''t we a country that seperates church and state... well here is a prime example that we aren''t. So be like Nike and Just do it... SHUT UP!!!!!

[jordieb5]

First off it makes me laugh that it was said "Mormons also disavow belief in the Trinity - that the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one - instead believing the three to be individuals united in a single purpose. " Those belonging to the mormon church believe in the Trinity, That the father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are three seperate beings, being ONE in puporse! So that to me discredits this WHOLE article. Secondly it was said that mormons are a cult... how? How is it a cult when people believe in the same thing? What Proof do you have that mormons are a cult? And to think that All mormons vote republican is a flat out LIE!!! You obviously don''t know many mormons, because I, infact, have met many that vote democratic. True a lot of them do vote republican, because that group seems to have the same views that they. But never once has a church member came and said they HAD to vote republican! Another point, What is the issue with calling God Heavenly Father. ARe we not taught that we are his children on this earth, therefore, he is our father in heaven. Kind of simple. Maybe if you people would stop over analyzing everything you might actually have a good point to make. But i have YET to read one. And Mormons not being christian... Isn''t the basic definition of being christian believing in CHRIST.... hmm.. lets see... Christ is a center point for Mormon belief... oh look i think they are christian.

[hobbes1831]

ask temple mormons about swearing secrecy over pain of death (slitting of throat, i believe).

the very nature of God...mormons believe He was a sinful man who was "exalted" to godhood...just as each mormon can be...is a PRETTY BIG DIFFERENCE!!!!!

"oh, let''''s not squabble about small differences in our faith like me becoming a god or your eternal, holy God once being a sinful man."

[klingon69]

romney won''''t mention that...or that polygamy is still seen as good...and is only renounce for p.r. reasons
Posted by hobbes1831 at 10:09 PM : Dec 05, 2007
All religions have splinter groups. The LDS have a few also. There is a group of them that felt that the leader of the church should be a direct descendant of Joseph Smith. Another splinter group (which we''ve heard a bit about in the news) believes in polygamy.

[davea0511]

wow! so much hate.

[skyk-2009]

FlangeSqueal,
Spoken out of pure ignornce! You must be a Democrat. If you knew anything about Jesus at all it would surprise me. But you are free to your opinion as am I. If you dont know, just repeat what you have heard some one else say. Make you sound really knowledgeable.


Posted by nstag8ter at 06:38 AM : Dec 06, 2007
+ report abuse

What happened to respect for our Constitution? It''s unbelievable what people like this have done to it. Article SIX of that ONCE great Document says as plain as it can be said that we have NO right to impose any Religious TEST on our officials, yet the Religious Reich INSIST on trashing that great Document. Why? All you fundies should go get a copy of Senator John Kennedy''s speech to the Southern Baptist on this subject. Now there was a GREAT man who spoke OF the Constitution and it''s REQUIREMENTs on our leaders. He say''s loud and plain... the Seperation of Church and State MUST remain and we MUST protect it!! He joins a list as long as our history saying the same thing.

[tomtomasters]

Jesus was against violence. I find any religion that does not stand against violence not a religion. The Mormon Church authorities claim to not voice their opinion of who people vote for; but it is a lie, because they all vote Republican. Mormons are the first to take up arms, as Joseph Smith was armed while in a Prison Cell, and when people tried to disarm him, he ensued in a gun battle that took his life. Truly if he was a Prophet of the Lord, he would know of how Jesus reacted when the guards came to take him away. He neither fought nor condemned, but asked his father in heaven to forgive them. All organized Religions in America are frauds. They lie, cheat, and do not really do the good things of the Lord. They all argue. Religion should always be a personal practice, that looks and does favors for the Lord not for mankinds greed or Church Organizations, or supporting wars, and ungodly behavior. Mormons support War, the Book of Mormon is nothing but War. They are a War based Religion. I stand against War, violence, and falsehood. Yet I am banished from Celestial Glory, because of it. Go pound Salt Lake up your Grand Canyon Utah.

[perception5]

It hard to believe in 2007 that America''s liberal MSM wolfpack is concerned about Mitt''s religion.

They, the wolfpack, claim that the conservatives care but they don''t because Mitt has picked up several major conservative endorsements.

The real reason why this issue keeps coming up is because America''s wolfpack press is trying as hard as they can to de-rail Mitt before he can win the GOP nomination. They know that if Mitt gets through to the next round he will beat Hillary Rotten-Clinton by a large margin.

Other Mormons have run for president in our history from both parties. Morris Udall, a Democrat, ran in 1976 and Orin Hatch, a Republican, I believe ran in 1996.

America''s corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack press needs to bring diversity to their "dens of liberals". They need to include not exclude moderates and conservatives...........NOW!

[nstag8ter]

FlangeSqueal,
Spoken out of pure ignornce! You must be a Democrat. If you knew anything about Jesus at all it would surprise me. But you are free to your opinion as am I. If you dont know, just repeat what you have heard some one else say. Make you sound really knowledgeable.

[strunke]

jcr103-
You don''t even know what an evangelical christian is.

jmcgilvray-
I can quote just as many that say the opposite and you know that, so what?

The Christians didn''t want gold or land. That is a ignorant and stupid statement. In fact pretty much everything you said was completly wrong and misguided. PROGRESS, and natural cultural/technological evolution (survival of the fitest) is what happened to "your people". Christianity had NOTHING to do with what happened, open your mind, hate is blinding. Greed and monarchial-imperialism is what happened. MAN (NOT God, not Christians, not Jews, not MORMONS) is what happened, the sooner you realize that the more enlightened you will be. Christians and Jews have and will be the most persecuted people in the world. This 2,000 years B S shows your complete ignorance of the history of civilizations and this world. Think before you speak and act self-righteous and delusional.

[nstag8ter]

jmcgilvray, you are a liar! Joseph Smith never said that. Why when people dont know about something, they just make something up?! Do you want to sound important? Or just spread another lie about people you do not know? Every thing Mormons believe is in the open @ LDS.org. Nothing is omitted. Look for yourselves.

[watcher269-2009]

Where''s the story of how the Bush Administration deleted 10 million emails between 2003 and 2005?

They broke the law - why isn''t Katie the Bimbette looking into this story?

[gunownerdan]

Seems like once a cult gets enough members, it becomes a religion.
At nearly 6 million members in the US, I think we can now call Mormonism a religion.

[ontheleft]

Romney doesn''t stand a chance of getting nominated, so the issue is moot.