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20 September 2012
Popular Christian Book Warns of Mormon Presidency
September 20, 2012
Opposing Views
If Romney becomes President, it is estimated that over one million people, worldwide, will be lured in to the false religion of Mormonism. Because Mormons are calling themselves “Christians” now, we must be armed with the facts in order to protect even Christians from being pulled in to the cult of Mormonism that could greatly affect their eternal salvation. It is imperative that the Christian Church become pro-active in educating the flocks.
The author is a conservative Christian, a registered Republican, and a former Mormon Bishop’s daughter. Although Ms. Erickson is not a Barack Obama supporter, she warns that when the facts on Romney are examined, there should be great concern for the future of our country if he is seated in the Office Of The Presidency. This is NOT a Kennedy Catholic scenario. Mitt’s Mormonism and The Mormon Plan For America should cause great concern for the American People. While revealing the documented facts, the book reads like an exciting novel because, in this book, the truth is truly stranger than fiction. From the secret Mormon Temple Ceremonies (USA Today Magazine featured a 2000 word excerpt of this chapter of the book in its July, 2012 issue) to the racist history of the Mormon Church to the outlandish White Horse Prophecy Mormon Plan for America, what has been hidden is revealed.
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/religion/popular-christian-political-book-warns-mormon-presidency
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Mitt Romney’s hard-hearted twist on the Mormon work ethic
September 20, 2012
Washington Post
Mormons regard thrift, industry and self-reliance as non-negotiable obligations. Hard work – “industry” in the LDS community — is the backbone of a faithful Mormon’s life. Good, honest sweat will lead to more than individual prosperity: it will lead, Mormons believe, to the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. “Everything connected with building up Zion requires actual, severe labor,” said Brigham Young, one of the fathers of the church. A friend of Young’s recalled in 1862 with sentimental exhilaration working “side by side” with Young in the fields, from sunrise until past 9 p.m. and chopping wood, for pennies, waist-deep in snow. American Christians have long glorified work – “worldly business,” Jonathan Edwards said, can be “as good as prayer” – but for Mormons it is a value above almost every other.
It is not an accident that the emblem for the state of Utah, settled by Mormons, is the beehive – the natural world’s community of busy workers. The state’s motto, not coincidentally, is “Industry.”
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Romney and the disappearing evangelical dilemma
September 19, 2012
Fox News
Nearly one year ago I ignited a national discussion about Mitt Romney’s religious faith by labeling Mormonism as a “cult.” Although I readily acknowledged that Romney’s Mormonism did not disqualify him from the presidency (and that I would prefer him to President Obama), I did predict that if Romney became the Republican nominee, President Obama would win a second term. I’m now willing to admit my prognostication may have been premature for several reasons.
I had based my prediction of Romney’s defeat on the belief that enough evangelicals would stay at home in November due to a lack of enthusiasm for a Romney presidency. Some evangelical Christians have been troubled by Romney’s Mormonism, while others are disturbed by his lack of a consistent, conservative record on social issues.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/09/19/mitt-romney-and-disappearing-evangelical-dilemma/
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Letter: Romney’s stance on immigration out of step from his religion
September 20, 2012
East Valley Tribune (Arizona)
Mitt Romney’s stance on immigration is not on the same page as his religion. It should be vividly noted especially here in Arizona, the church neither discriminates against the undocumented nor denies them access to a Mormon temple or to any of the ordinances prescribed for adherents of the LDS faith.
This attitude of openness within the Mormon church’s statements on immigration, argue against restrictive state enforcement measures, such as Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070, and against the separation of families. The LDS Church also supports the Utah Compact. In 2011, it supported the passage of a package of laws in Utah that included a state guest-worker program.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/opinion/article_bf478c58-036e-11e2-95fc-001a4bcf887a.html
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Church Official Pushes Mormon Voter Registration in Key Swing State
September 20, 2012
ABC News
In a provocative move within a religious organization that has sought to display strict political neutrality, an official of the Mormon church has disseminated a presentation across the key swing state of Nevada that urges members to vote and speak “with one voice” in the coming Presidential election that pits Mormon Mitt Romney against President Barack Obama.
“Any Mormon would understand exactly what’s being said there,” said Randall Balmer, a Dartmouth religion professor who has studied the church’s handling of Romney’s presidential bids. “This is very thinly coded language.”
Mormon officials have permitted church leaders to encourage voting, but have stressed that it not be done in a partisan fashion. A senior church member emailed the presentation to Nevada “stake presidents” — similar to Catholic bishops — last month. The email was first reported last week by Jon Ralston, an independent Nevada journalist.
The roughly 30-minute PowerPoint presentation appears to have two goals — to motivate Mormons in Nevada to register and vote in November, and to help them prepare for questions they may get as their church garners attention as a result of Romney’s bid. Three of the 20 slides that were shared with ABC News pointedly urge members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to remember the “importance of speaking with one voice.”
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Missouri remains land of religious promise for Mormons
September 20, 2012
Washington Post
In 1831, Mormon founder Joseph Smith declared that the righteous would gather in Independence, Mo., to greet the Second Coming of Jesus Christ — just one of the prophecies that estranged his faith from traditional Christianity.
Thousands of converted Mormons moved from Ohio and upstate New York to claim their New Jerusalem. Disputes with Missourians led to a bloody Mormon War that ended only when the state’s governor issued an “extermination order” to expel Smith’s followers.
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Did Romney Lie About His Family’s Flight to Mexico in His Memoir? Does Accuracy Matter?
September 20, 2012
Huffington Post
In truth, Romney’s ancestor may have never lost his love of the United States, but he didn’t leave Arizona on good terms — or legal ones.
In the 1880s, Mormons in Arizona didn’t just face persecution for their polygamy practices; they also faced resentment over their aggressive land deals and encroaching settlements. Five Mormons, including William Flake — the great-great-grandfather of Arizona Republican Jeff Flake, who is running for a Senate seat in 2012 — were convicted of unlawful “cohabitation” in 1884 and sent to prison. In a related land claims dispute involving Miles P. Romney, Mormon leader David Udall–the great-grandfather of U.S. Senators Tom Udall, a Democrat from New Mexico, and Colorado Democrat Mark Udall — was sent to prison in Detroit on perjury charges. (Udall, who had apparently considered fleeing the country, was later pardoned by President
Grover Cleveland.)
Mitt Romney says his ancestor “was called upon to settle” in Mexico? Really?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-biggers/did-romney-lie-about-his-_b_1900185.html
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REJECTING ROMNEY, GAYS — AND OBAMA
September 20, 2012
South Florida Times
Some black clergy, seeing no good presidential choice between a Mormon candidate and one who supports gay marriage, are telling their flocks to stay home on Election Day, a worrisome message in a tight race.
The pastors say their congregants are asking how a true Christian could back same-sex marriage, as President Barack Obama did in May. As for Republican Mitt Romney, the first Mormon nominee from a major party, congregants are questioning the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its former ban on men of African descent in the priesthood.
http://www.sfltimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11121&Itemid=199
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Teachings on baptism, Trinity make Mormons different from Protestants
September 19, 2012
Georgia Bulletin
With Mitt Romney at the top of Republican Party presidential ticket and Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate, the Republicans for the first time do not have a Protestant on the ticket. Ryan, the vice presidential candidate, is Catholic. GOP presidential hopeful Romney is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and as the Catholic News Service Stylebook on Religion notes, “It is not a Protestant church.” The word “Protestant” is the proper term for the new churches of Western Christianity formed during the Reformation, for the branches of those churches and for their members. The main branches of Protestantism include Baptist, Congregational, Lutheran, Methodist, Quaker, Presbyterian and Reformed denominations. Some significant differences in belief and practice between Mormonism and Protestantism come into play. “Well, it probably would refer mainly to the teachings on baptism,” said Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, which is home to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often referred to as “LDS.” The bishop said: “In 2001, the Vatican conclusively determined that we do not accept LDS baptisms, and the LDS Church does not accept Catholic baptisms, so there’s no surprise in that.” In explaining its decision, the Vatican said that even though the Mormon baptismal rite refers to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the church’s beliefs about the identity of the three persons are so different from Catholic and mainline Christian belief that the rite cannot be regarded as a Christian baptism. Catholics and other Christians believe that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are three persons of a triune God, while Latter-day Saints believe them to be separate and distinct persons. Another point that distinguishes them from Catholics and Protestants is their church’s Book of Mormon, four books that are appended to their religion’s Bible. The books are considered “extracanonical” by Christians and are not included in Catholic or Protestant Bibles.
http://www.georgiabulletin.org/world/2012/09/19/NEWS-4/
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Op-Ed of the Day: ‘The Book of Mormon’ and ‘Innocence of Muslims’
September 20, 2012
Minnesota Public Radio
The most “progressive” administration in recent U.S. history will make no principled defense of free speech to a Muslim world that could stand hearing such a defense. After the debut of “The Book of Mormon” musical, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints responded with this statement: “The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening but the Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people’s lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ.”
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Kirby: As for me and my house, we’re keeping the ammo
September 20, 2012
Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)
Mormon food storage is back in the news again, but this time with a caveat. We’ve been counseled by a church leader NOT to store ammunition.
Instead, we’re to focus on food and other emergency essentials such as water, medical supplies, church publications on CD, Rolaids, etc. for the tough times ahead.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/54935952-80/ammo-ammunition-church-kirby.html.csp
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Easy Targets
September 20, 2012
National Review
You know The Book of Mormon — not the actual book, but the Broadway show. It mocks the Mormons and their religion every which way. Including in vulgar, sexual, and blasphemous ways. It is, of course, a monster hit. It has raked in millions of dollars, nine Tony awards, and legions of fans. They have laughed their backsides off. Attending last year was our secretary of state, Hillary Clinton.
And when that schlub of a videomaker in California was rude to Islam, what did Secretary Clinton say? “Disgusting and reprehensible.” The guy was also carted off by a posse of lawmen at midnight.
A reader now informs me of an interesting story: The Mormon Church has purchased ad space in the program for the Broadway show’s L.A. production. One of the ads features a smiling woman and the words “The book is always better.”
Touché. An example of turning the other cheek, cleverly.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/327928/easy-targets-jay-nordlinger
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‘SEINFELD’ STAR THEORIZES ROMNEY STIFFED MORMON CHURCH
September 20, 2012
Big Hollywood
“Seinfeld” alum Jason Alexander has been waging war against the Right via Twitter for some weeks now.
The actor’s latest verbal volley brings up the Left’s laziest attack on Mitt Romney. Yes, liberals are still obsessed with Romney’s taxes, all the while ignoring the Failure in Chief’s latest economic numbers.
Alexander Tweeted, without an ounce of evidence, why Romney won’t release an avalanche of his tax records.
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2012/09/20/seinfeld-star-accuses-romney-stiffing-church
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Friend tells of helpful, caring Mitt Romney
September 20, 2012
Daily Progress (Virginia)
In the late 1960s, a young Mormon missionary named Mitt Romney was riding around southwestern France when he noticed smoke coming from a house.
“It was just a farmhouse. It could’ve been just burning wood. Mitt was concerned that something was wrong over there,” said Dr. Dane McBride, one of Romney’s fellow missionaries. “He goes off the road back to where this house is. In fact, there’s a fire, and he helps get people out.”
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Letters: free speech
September 20, 2012
San Diego Union Tribune (California)
I am astounded at how easily so-called civil rights activist Randall Hamud is willing to sacrifice freedom of speech in this county because of an irrational response to a horrible film clip by admitted Islamaphobes (“Free speech or incitement to violence,” Opinion, Sept. 20). Would he also have banned Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses” because it resulted in “violent outbursts”? Apparently so. If the award-winning and highly acclaimed Broadway [musical], “The Book of Mormon,” had instead similarly lambasted the Koran and its prophet, would Hamud ban that also? Is the difference that Mormons won’t riot in the streets over disrespect to their religion and some Muslims will? Is that the standard that he wants us to use to deny freedom of speech?
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/20/letters-free-speech/
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Thursday’s Sound Off
September 20, 2012
Pottstown Mercury (Pennsylvania)
I agree that Mitt Romney is a Mormon and not a Christian. This is because Mormons believe the Book of Mormon is the most correct book of scripture. The Bible according to Mormons was the result of multi-step translation process by many men, unlike the Book of Mormon that came directly from God. I know, I was a Mormon for almost 10 years.
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120920/OPINION04/120929998/thursday-s-sound-off
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Timely New Political Thriller Explores Mormon Secrets
September 20, 2012
The Mormon Candidate tells the story of a young journalist, Ben Teller, who investigates the suspicious death of a Marine Corps veteran at a motorcycle rally. The victim, a devout Mormon, was involved in secret baptisms for dead American heroes. Teller’s prying draws deadly fire, but he persists. A group of disillusioned Mormons helps him infiltrate the Mormon Temple and uncover a secret that not only shocks the nation, but could also derail a presidential candidacy and change the course of American history.
The Mormon Candidate, which is based on meticulous research of the LDS Church practices and rituals, is being compared by book reviewers to The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and Absolute Power by David Baldacci.
http://www.pr.com/press-release/442062
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Arter honored for life of military, civilian service
September 20, 2012
Ft. Leavenworth Lamp (Kansas)
Clinton E. Patterson and John A. Dillingham, co-chairs of the Doniphan Award Committee, also talked about Doniphan and his life of accomplishments in their remarks. Dillingham discussed how, in the 1830s, Doniphan had legally represented the early Mormons in Missouri as their lawyer, and further protected them as an officer in the militia by defying the orders of the governor and a superior officer to execute the Mormon leaders at Far West, Mo.
“Alexander Doniphan took a stand for our church, and I would say for all churches … by disobeying an unlawful, but popular, order,” said Jeremiah J. Morgan, president of the LDS Liberty Missouri Stake.
In his introduction of the award recipient, Hyrum W. Smith, president of the CGSC Foundation, pointed out that were it not for Doniphan’s disobedience, he would not be present today.
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Religious scholar to discuss Joseph Smith and Enoch at Arrington lecture
September 20, 2012
Herald Journal (Utah)
Religious scholar Terryl Givens will speak at 7 p.m. tonight at the Logan LDS Tabernacle as part of the 18th annual Leonard J. Arrington Mormon History Lecture.
The event is free and open to the public.
Givens, a professor of literature and religion at the University of Richmond in Virginia, will present “The Prophecy of Enoch as Restoration Blueprint.” Givens also holds the Bostwick chair of English. He teaches courses in 19th-century studies and the Bible’s influence on Western literature.
As a commentator on Mormon religion and culture, Givens has appeared on PBS, NPR and CNN. He has written several books, including a biography, “Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle Paul of Mormonism.”
http://news.hjnews.com/news/article_c9828fee-02b8-11e2-b1c4-001a4bcf887a.html
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