Mormons and evangelicals as blood brothers?

JTX-1,

I pointed out that Romney has made secret, cultish "covenants" in LDS Temples to give everything he is "blessed with" (including the Presidency?) to the LDS/Mormon church, including his life.

In a world tormented by religiously-motivated violence, terrorism, suicide, etc., you dismiss that concern out of hand.

As a "rational" response to that concern, you write:

"Those who suppose that any oath Mormons take as a part of their faith would supercede (sic) the Oath of the President of the United States in the carrying out of its duties should have their head examined."

Interesting "argument" (NOT). Is that the best you can do? An ad hominem attack? Is this the kind of intelligent dialog we can expect from all Mormons? If so, perhaps that is another reason to distrust Romney. Perhaps he shares your irrationality, that is characteristic of those who make the kind of cultish oaths he has made in Mormon Temples? The kind of other-worldly, fanatic mindset that is similar to what motivates much of the religious violence, strife, and terrorism around the world? We may also wonder about Mitt Romney's (or any Mormon's) mental health. Utah (the Mormon state) has led the nation for many years in the consumption and abuse of prescription anti-depressants/anti-anxiety drugs, as well as the consumption of pornography. Perhaps there is something about the irrationality of Mormon cultish beliefs that makes people more susceptible to such things?

You completely underestimate the importance of these issues, and you dismiss them out of hand instead of giving us fact-based, reasonable arguments that might address these concerns.

Try to think rationally instead of emotionally ("the spirit") for once.

I never tire of looking at the comments posted on any article referring even ancillarily to the LDS Church, as invariably Evangelicals will turn the comment posts into a forum of hate. OK, OK, you think all Mormons are going to Hell. This should make a strong case for making a Mormon the President, as He/She will be in good company.

Read the article, and respond intelligently. Politically, Evangelicals and Mormons are practically twins. If a front runner is a Mormon, Evangelicals should get behind him/her, as he / she will undoubtedly further the Evangelical social, moral and political agenda. Those who suppose that any oath Mormons take as a part of their faith would supercede the Oath of the President of the United States in the carrying out of its duties should have their head examined. It pains me to quote him, but look at Jerry Fallwell's comments one more time:
Falwell saying the following:

"If you and I were discussing theology we'd probably come to bloody blows. But we were not; we were discussing politics and so we were blood brothers."

Before his death, Falwell tapped this same pragmatism to justify his potential support of Mitt Romney as a presidential candidate as early as 2006:

"There's no question that there are strong feelings about Mormonism. But we're not electing a Sunday-school teacher, we're electing a president."

Faith is one thing. But oaths and loyalties that take priority above the United States of America and its Constitution are threats to the sovereignty of this nation.

When Mitt Romney went through the Mormon temple, he became "endowed". In order to become endowed, Mormons have to pass an interview (like a catechism for Catholics). The endowment ritual includes many things Mormons are not allowed to talk about outside of the Temples. These secret ("sacred") things include special promises and covenants Mormons make to the Church and to God. One of these "oaths" promises total and complete loyalty to the LDS Church and its leaders, including being willing to give all your possessions to the Church if needed.

The oath is something like this:

"Each of you bring your right arm to the square. You and each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar, ...that you do consecrate yourselves, your time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion."

They also promise:

"And as Jesus Christ has laid down his life for the redemption of mankind, so we should covenant to sacrifice all that we possess, even our own lives if necessary, in sustaining and defending the Kingdom of God (LDS Church)."

Mitt Romney has made this oath, and repeats this oath each time he returns to an LDS Temple.

For a POTUS to have made such a secret oath violates the oath of office of the POTUS. The POTUS must not have ANY higher loyalty than to the United States of America and Constitution.

"Endowed" Mormons should be automatically disqualified because of their secret oaths in their temples that place their loyalty to the LDS Church above their loyalty to the United States of America.

Back a few years ago when Mitt Romney became "endowed", Mormon temple oaths included "penalties" for breaking the oaths:

"We, and each of us, covenant and promise that we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the first token of the Aaronic priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should we do so, we agree that our throats be cut from ear to ear and our tongues torn out by their roots."

"We and each of us do covenant and promise that we will not reveal the secrets of this, the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign, grip or penalty. Should we do so, we agree to have our breasts cut open and our hearts and vitals torn from our bodies and given to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field."

Mormons claim to be Christians. Read Matt7:21-23 to see what Jesus said about such claims.

Mormons will quote their "Articles of Faith" and other scriptures from their "Standard Works" in an attempt to convince you they are "mainstream" and Christian.

But we know from history that Mormons believe the word of their living leaders above scripture, and they are not above "lying for the Lord".

Case in point: The Mormon Church leader told all Mormons to "do all you can" to fight against same-sex marriage (Prop 8 in California). This despite the fact that LDS scriptures clearly state:

"It is NOT JUST for religions to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied" (D&C134).

Even polygamy was continued secretly for around 10 years after LDS Church leaders lied and swore to Congress that the practice had ceased in the Church (see Quinn).

So, please, stop the lies. Stop denying what your Church really is: a secretive, elitist, imperialistic cult aspiring to "put an end to all nations", and rule the world for a thousand years when "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess" that the Mormon Jesus is in charge!

The last thing this country needs is a cult-member in the White House!

haveaheart

In case you cant find it, here is a good place to start:

God created man "in his own image", Gen. 1:27 (Moses 2:27).

Mark
Always seek the truth.

haveaheart

ok. ill repeat myself: It's in the bible!

Mark
Always seek the truth.

Ultimately, this is the question religious Americans will be asking themselves:

"Can I vote for someone who believes in the Mormon doctrine of 'as man is now, God once was; as God is now, man may become'?"

I'm betting that most religious Americans (and, granted, I'm not one) will not be accepting of a belief system that makes God and humans equal.

viper77

Hey. It's in the bible.(am i repeating myself here?)

That is, except for the planet Kolob part.

That part is in the books of Moses, what the first 4 books of the old testament was based upon, but were edited because that part didnt fit with the doctrine of the church.

You know, the center of the universe and the only planet with life bit.

Mark
Always seek the truth.

shadow27

Your comparison to the "Battlestar Galactica" series is interesting, but I doubt that was the intention.

Besides, the "lords of Kobol" mode of operation do not match the way the house of our heavenly father is set up.

Mark
Always seek the truth.

schafer-family

The LDS church is not "working to bring in the kingdom".

Mark
Always seek the truth.

As a life-long Mormon I find it difficult to understand many who call themselves Christians today. They believe in following commandments, but then celebrate Mardi Gras, or utter indulgence before a day of restraint. Many say they know God and serve him and then they get a salary to do so. As I have gone through college and worked for non-Mormon Christian organizations I have found a strange dichotomy. On the one hand many have deep belief, but the same group generally has made some allowance for indulgence in sex, drugs, etc. The Mormon church is simply based on the belief that Christian churches of the early 1800's were so fractured that God blessed his people with a restoration of truth to "bless the whole earth" not just the Mormons.

The more educated I have become the more Mormon I have become. We either believe in God or don't believe. Which means we act as he would have us act. A couple things Mormons believe God said explaining why the restoration was necessary... "because of the calamities that will befall men...many [in 1820)draw near unto me with their lips but their hearts are far from me."

Those reasons are even more prevalent today. Those who claim Christ’s name will have great cause to work together as the divide between the indulgent and faithful grows.

viper77 the planet is Kolob not Kaneb. If you watch Battlestar Galactica the planet Kobol is based on it.

Mormon beliefs seem to have more in common with Scientology than with Evangelical Christianity. Both Mormon and Scientologist mythology have a distinct "sci fi" feel to them. Whereas Christian and Jewish mythology cleary are drawn from much older mythic traditions.

In politics, it's usually the lesser of many evils. Mitt vs. Osama, or Sarah vs. Ms. Clinton, ... you get the drift? :-)

I believe Jesus saved me from my sins and will someday bring His eternal kingdom. Mormonism thinks they are working to bring in the kingdom, something they cannot accomplish.

What puzzles me is how Mormons can lay claim to the Christian tradition and its Jewish foundation of monotheism when they believe that God is a physical, not a spiritual being, that God was once a human being, and that human beings can become gods. I once asked a Mormon elder, "If God is a physical being, where is He?" "On the planet Kaneb," he said. Say what?

When Jesus Christ himself restarts his church with the direction to spread his word, how can that lead to eternal death?

We (Mormons) follow the bible, ALL of it. Not just the parts that are convenient. We don’t make up our own doctrine that is in conflict with the bible, our doctrine comes from Jesus. By its nature it is in harmony with the bible. It would have to be, considering its source.

I can’t imagine a Mormon coming to “bloody blows” with anyone because of a difference in beliefs. THAT would be in conflict with the bible.

Mark
Always seek the truth.