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3 October 2012
East Coast Mormon Helping Hands Work to Stop Hunger
October 3, 2012
Some people made homemade apple butter or casseroles, others cleared public trails and parks, but the majority of the effort was focused on the battle against hunger in the states of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia and in the District of Columbia.
Prompted by local leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but joined by the three states’ governors and the mayor of the district, a regional effort to combat the challenges of hunger, particularly in the lives of children, took place Saturday, 29 September 2012, as a “Day to Serve.” Numerous other faith-based groups, community service organizations and university students collaborated in a singular focus to stock the shelves of local food banks.
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/east-coast-mormon-helping-hands-work-to-stop-hunger
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Mormon FAIR-Cast 109: Response to criticisms of the Book of Mormon
October 3, 2012
FAIR Blog
In a movie entitled “The Bible vs. The Book of Mormon,” the Living Hope Ministries levels a set of common attacks against the Book of Mormon. In this episode of Religion Today that originally aired on May 29, 2011, Martin Tanner discusses various arguments against the Book of Mormon and provides responses to these criticisms.
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Boomerang Hits of the Book of Mormon #1
October 3, 2012
FAIR Blog
In the constant ideological struggles between LDS scholars and critics, specific issues are often raised that are intended to disprove the authenticity claims of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Book of Mormon. These attacks, like those from the sharp edges of a deadly throwing stick intended to weaken or kill a target, are intended to weaken or kill the faith of individuals in the Restoration. These attacks often take the form of technical criticisms backed by scientific or scholarly studies. They are aimed at discrediting both the plausibility and the probability that the Church and Book of Mormon are precisely what they claim to be.
Interestingly, many such criticisms are later proved to be consistent with the authenticity claims of the Church and the Book of Mormon. When this happens, it is often times very much contrary to the prevailing wisdom such that it becomes an evidence of authenticity. Think of it this way. Someone planning to write a forged document would certainly avoid such obvious errors, and if they did include a detail that was highly contrary to the knowledge of the day, they would open themselves to exposure as a fraud – unless, of course, this information is later proved to be accurate. This is something a forger could not afford to risk. As such, including a detail that seems an error on the surface but which later is demonstrated to be accurate becomes an evidence of authenticity precisely because it is included in obvious contradiction to what would be expected by a forger.
http://www.fairblog.org/2012/10/03/boomerang-hits-of-the-book-of-mormon-1/
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Why Mitt’s Mormonism doesn’t matter
October 4, 2012
Chicago Tribune (Illinois)
Mormonism is a minority sect once persecuted by mainstream American Christians for its unconventional doctrines and practice of polygamy. It is still viewed by many as an odd cult. But a Mormon is the Republican nominee for president, and he can take consolation that if he loses, it will not be because of his religion.
That may be the biggest surprise of this election year. Freedom of religion is a constitutional principle, but it has long coexisted with widespread hostility toward certain faiths. When he ran four years ago, Mitt Romney’s affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a novelty that looked to be a liability.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-oped-1004-chapman-20121004,0,1468146.column
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Mitt Romney’s Mormon religion a non-issue during the 2012 presidential election
October 3, 2012
Washington Post
On the one hand, Mitt Romney has further kindled American interest in its most famous homegrown religion. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) has not been in the crosshairs of this much sustained media interest for at least 100 years. At the same time, Mormonism has yet to emerge as a live political issue during the 2012 campaign.
This is not because all Americans are comfortable with the idea of a Mormon president. Ten percent of Republicans and 24 percent of Democrats tell pollsters that they would not vote for a Mormon presidential candidate.
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Romney’s Mormonism Should Not Be Source of Criticism
October 3, 2012
The Ram (New York)
Mormons are a relatively new sect of Christianity, and are, in fact, distinctly American (their leader, Joseph Smith Jr., found the “golden tablets” that were the basis for the Book of Mormon in upstate New York). Mitt Romney’s religion does not make him any less able to govern over a state or become a successful businessman, just as it did not hinder his father from doing the same (governors of Michigan and Massachusetts, respectively).
According to Google Insights, public interest in Romney’s religion is higher than ever, leading some pundits to wonder if it will be his downfall in this election. I can assure you that if Romney is not elected, it will not be because he is “too Mormon for America.” There are a myriad of other reasons to vote one way or the other. The only reason that religion is even a topic of discussion for the Romney campaign is to prove to his conservative Christian brethren that he is a man of faith whose moral compass is distinctly Christian.
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Revisiting the Mormon Issue
October 3, 2012
Christian Post
Without a doubt, there are real and substantial differences between historic Christianity and Mormonism. I have heard some people refer to Mormons (members of the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”) as if they are simply members of another Christian denomination. That’s a mistake. By their own admission, Mormonism and historic, creedal Christianity differ on some key doctrines, many of which I enumerated in a previous column. There are huge differences between them in theology, even down to the very understanding of who God is. These differences should not be papered over.
But to vote for a member of a particular religious group (whether for a Mormon, a Christian, or something else) does not mean one supports that group per se.
Sure, it would be great to vote for Jesus Christ, but He’s not on the ballot.
http://www.christianpost.com/news/revisiting-the-mormon-issue-82626/
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Who’s Accusing Who of Mormon-Baiting?
October 3, 2012
Religion Dispatches
As the 2012 campaign heads into its final stretch, it’s not surprising that hearsay reports like Donohue’s and Deal’s are cropping up, and Mormons are feeling extra sensitive about the fate of the nation’s first major party presidential candidate.
But I’ll bet you a twelve pack of caffeine-free Diet Coke and a dozen pink-frosted sugar cookies that there is no anti-Mormon phonebanking script in use by Catholics for Obama. Anywhere.
Is anti-Mormonism real? Yes. But even if one poorly-trained rogue phonebanker veered off script into an anti-Mormon ad lib, it does not make for a concerted anti-Mormon effort. (Leave that to orthographically challenged “Heaven is Easy” ministry in Florida.)
May cool heads prevail as the race heats up in its final weeks. After all, spinning hearsay into broad anti-Mormon conspiracy in order to tar your political opponents is Mormon baiting too.
http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/joannabrooks/6466/who‘s_accusing_who_of_mormon-baiting/
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An American Religion
October 3, 2012
Patheos
In Tampa a few weeks ago twenty thousand Republicans bowed their heads and listened solemnly to the Mormon Ken Hutchins offer a prayer. They applauded a string of Mormons who stood to bear witness to Mitt Romney’s service in his Mormon congregation. Historically speaking, this was remarkable. A century and a half ago, after all, this same party’s convention denounced Mormonism for being as barbaric as slavery.
On the face of it the Republican convention of 2012 seems a microcosm of modern American religious tolerance. In the Mormon Mitt Romney and the Catholic Paul Ryan the GOP has, after all, crafted their first presidential ticket since the Civil War without a Protestant. But digging deeper reveals a different story: America has adapted less to these religions than they have adapted themselves to America. The real story of Mormonism in this election season is not one of the Latter-day Saints alone, but rather about the ways in which the polarities of American political culture have insistently tugged American religions into their orbit
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/peculiarpeople/2012/10/an-american-religion/
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Obama campaign accused of calls targeting Romney’s Mormon faith
October 3, 2012
DFW Catholic
President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign has drawn criticism amid allegations that its members have been making bigoted election calls to Catholics attacking the Mormon faith.
Deal Hudson, political activist and president of the Pennsylvania Catholics Network, warned that members of the Obama campaign have been making phone calls asking voters, “How can you support a Mormon who does not believe in Jesus Christ?”
On Sept. 26 and Oct. 2, Hudson reported that a campaign group known as “Catholics for Obama” was making calls directed at raising doubts about Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith.
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Faith perspective: The church’s view on Mormon candidates
October 2, 2012
Green Bay Press Gazette (Wisconsin)
The presidential campaign is in full swing, and it’s no secret that Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential nominee is a devote member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; a Mormon. Nor is it a secret that he served as a bishop (local pastor) in the church.
This has some people wondering what our church’s view on politics is, and how beholden to the church is Mitt Romney, if at all.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a long-standing policy regarding politics and civic activity. This policy is reviewed in local congregations during active political seasons. For example, last month I was instructed by the leaders of our church to read the policy once again in our meetings.
I quote from this policy, “While affirming the right of expression on political and social issues, the Church is neutral regarding political parties, political platforms and candidates for political office. The Church does not endorse any political party or candidate. Nor does it advise members how to vote. However, in some exceptional instances the Church will take a position on specific legislation, particularly when it concludes that moral issues are involved.”
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Want To See The Book Of Mormon? Better Up Your Arts Commitment.
October 3, 2012
Dallas Observer (Texas)
It’s the biggest show to hit Broadway since…who knows? It’s tough remembering theater before Mormon came knocking. The South Park/Avenue Q love child tells the story of two eager young missionaries who just can’t wait to save souls. The only problem? They’re sent to an AIDS-soaked African country where people rape babies and sing/shout expletives at God. It’s won nine Tony awards and still sells out nightly in New York.
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/mixmaster/2012/10/wanna_see_the_book_of_mormon_y.php
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The Mormon Masterpiece Page 1
October 3, 2012
Salt Lake City Weekly (Utah)
On a spring day in 1820, Joseph Smith walked into the woods near his home in Palmyra, N.Y., and knelt down to pray. While on his knees within this grove of trees, he claims to have not only seen, but spoken with, God and Jesus Christ, thus beginning his controversial and remarkably ambitious creation–The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This creation, like any work of art, was intended to evoke emotions, steer thinking in a specific direction and, most importantly, convince believers that what they are seeing, hearing and feeling is true and real.
http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-453-16554-the-mormon-masterpiece-by-mike-furness.html
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‘The Book of Mormon’ begins single-ticket sales on Friday for its January run in Portland
October 3, 2012
The Oregonian
Tickets for the highly anticipated Portland visit of the Broadway smash “The Book of Mormon” have been available since February. But only as part of a subscription to the full 2012-13 season of U.S. Bank Broadway Across America Portland.
Friday morning, that changes, as single-ticket sales begin for the musical that dominated the 2011 Tony Awards (nine wins out of 14 nominations) and further expanded the satirical empire of “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2012/10/the_book_of_mormon_begins_sing.html
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Mormon-raised transgender wins battle with insurance company to have her sex-change operation paid for
October 3, 2012
Daily Mail (United Kingdom)
The 34-year-old – who was raised a Mormon in Utah – applied for pre-authorization for her male-to-female sex reassignment surgery in July 2011.
When she was denied after two appeals, she turned to the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund.
After they threatened to sue, the company reversed its decision and deemed the surgery medically necessary.
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Shuttle helps travelers take in Mormon sights during layovers
October 2, 2012
Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)
Mormon missionaries are well-known for bringing their faith to people around the world. But perhaps less well-known is the church’s airport shuttle, which brings people from around the world to the center of the LDS faith. For 16 years, the free shuttle has transported inquisitive travelers to and from Salt Lake City International Airport and Temple Square once an hour, almost daily.
“It’s one of the things that introduces them to the church and dispels some of the myths,” said Jerry Jordan, a part-time service missionary who drives the colorful van with his wife, Margaret Jordan, a couple of times a week, alternating with other retirees.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54958294-78/shuttle-lake-salt-temple.html.csp
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OBAMA CAMPAIGN DENIES ANTI-MORMON MESSAGE AIMED AT CATHOLICS
October 3, 2012
OneNewsNow
The Catholic Association is taking to task a pro-Obama group for an “incredibly intolerant” polling effort in Ohio, suggesting Catholics should not support Mitt Romney because he’s a Mormon.
A group calling itself “Catholics for Obama” is conducting push-polling in The Buckeye State, attempting to make Romney’s Mormonism an issue. Obama supporters making phone calls on behalf of the group have several Catholic organizations outraged about the nature of the calls. In a scripted phone message, Catholics are being asked: “How can you support a Mormon who does not believe in Jesus Christ?”
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The Bachelorette’s Jef Holm Slams Polygamy Story
October 3, 2012
E Online
Jef Holm’s book of Mormon doesn’t involve polygamy.
And, according to Emily Maynard’s Bachelorette-approved main man, neither does his family’s!
“Now they’re going after my family? My family DOES NOT, has HAS NEVER had any affiliation with polygamy. Ever.” Holm tweeted today (the squares are male and female face emoticons tweeted from a phone).
http://www.eonline.com/news/351119/the-bachelorette-s-jef-holm-slams-polygamy-story
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The Second Wives’ Club: we meet the Mormon polygamists
October 3, 2012
Channel 4 (United Kingdom)
The Kelsches are apostates, according to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The mainstream Church, of which Mitt Romney is a member, abandoned the practice of polygamy in 1890, although it took two more official warnings, several decades, and a stringent policy of excommunication to stamp it out.
http://www.channel4.com/news/the-second-wives-club-we-meet-the-mormon-polygamists
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CHAREN: Lowlife Harry Reid should resign
October 3, 2012
Odessa American (Texas)
Let’s play Imagine an Alternative Universe. Suppose that Rep. Paul Ryan had said that Joe Biden had “sullied the religion that he and I share.” How many days of the news cycle do you suppose would be dominated by the story? How many Democrats and members of the press would declare that this kind of religious provocation/bigotry rendered Mr. Ryan unfit for high office? Please submit your estimates to my inbox.
Now back to the universe we inhabit. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, participating in a unilateral race to the bottom, said just that about Mitt Romney. Highlighting an Internet item, Reid said he agreed that Romney “sullied” the Mormon faith, and that, in Nevada, voters would “understand that he is not the face of Mormonism.”
http://www.oaoa.com/editorial/columns/article_76a49974-0dc2-11e2-a0b8-0019bb30f31a.html
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How kabbala shaped Mormon faith
October 3, 2012
Ha’aretz (Israel)
In addition to being a talented and original theologian and a highly charismatic figure, Joseph Smith was the source of many of the esoteric theories pervading the North American continent in the first half of the 19th century. And, his theories were colored by the supernatural-theological worldview of the kabbala.
Citing the many points of similarity between Mormonism and kabbala, Bloom posits the “more direct influence of the kabbala on Smith than what we know.”
This would help explain the extreme divergences between Smith’s views and those of the conventional Protestant denominations that were his jumping off point.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/how-kabbala-shaped-mormon-faith.premium-1.468042
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Matheson is in Real Trouble in 2012
October 3, 2012
Utah Pulse
Love is the golden girl of national and local Republicans. If elected, she would be the first ever African-American female Republican in the U.S. House – real history-making.
Swallow was just another white Mormon state legislator looking to move up in Utah’s white Mormon Republican Party.
The dynamics of this race are very different.
Utah may well lead the nation in voter turnout this year, as Utahns who haven’t bothered to vote before go to the polls to cast a ballot for the first Mormon with a chance to win the presidency.
http://utahpulse.com/bookmark/20339981-Matheson-is-in-Real-Trouble-in-2012
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Will religion matter at presidential debate? Should it?
October 3, 2012
CNN
Both President Barack Obama, a Protestant Christian whose political base is largely secular and whose last presidential campaign was almost brought low by his association with a minister, and Mitt Romney, whose Mormon religion is misunderstood or viewed skeptically by many Americans, have generally avoided talking religion on the campaign trail.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/03/will-religion-matter-at-presidential-debate-should-it/
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Is America Ready for a President Who Has Never Been Drunk?
October 3, 2012
Huffington Post
Mitt Romney is a devout Mormon who does not drink. Despite a beer he tried as a “wayward youth,” he has never even had alcohol and yet he believes he can lead this nation. This is like someone who has never prayed believing he can be pope. It’s just not going to work.
First, a president needs to understand the plight of his people. Mitt Romney has $170 million, which to someone who spends no money on drinks, must be like $400 million. Someone like that would never know what a Four Loko tastes like or lower themselves to drink something that’s only sold at bodegas for $3 and is probably contains antifreeze. And until you know what it’s like to drink two Four Lokos and then try to break into a toy store to see if the toys come alive at night and then, when they don’t, start yelling at the toys for being lazy, and then cry, you’ll never understand what makes America great.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/will-newman/is-america-ready-for-a-pr_b_1920996.html
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Democrats shouldn’t attack Mormon religion
October 3, 2012
Cherokeean Herald (Texas)
I wonder why the Democrats are concerned about Mitt Romney’s Mormon religion? A letter in the Sept. 26 issue of the Cherokeean Herald is based on assumptions, not facts.
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Ralph Reed: Romney Must Bypass Obama, Speak to Voters at Debate
October 3, 2012
Newsmax
Asked if Romney can overcome evangelicals’ distrust of his Mormonism in the election, Reed responds: “I certainly don’t want to diminish the significance of the theological differences between orthodox evangelical Christians and the Mormon Church. Those differences have deep historic roots and those differences will remain regardless of what happens on Nov. 6.
“But I think if you look at the polling, for instance the Pew Research Center Poll, they found that Mitt Romney was getting about 71 percent of the evangelical vote. Others show it at about 65 percent of the evangelical vote. I think it’s going to be at least what George W. Bush got in 2000, which was 68 percent. I think it’s more likely to be closer to what McCain got four years ago, which was 73 percent.
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/2012-presidential-debates-ralph/2012/10/03/id/458541
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For those unfamiliar with Dylan Byers and Politico
October 3, 2012
Daily Caller
And Byers himself seems intent on aggressively pursuing Romney and his religion. In a post last May, Byers wondered, “When will we talk about Mormonism?”
“I’m not talking about Romney’s personal history — or his family’s history — in the Mormon Church, which is something that has already come up in various stories on cable news and made the front page of a few papers,” Byers wrote May 18. “I’m talking about a national conversation about the Mormon faith, including its past practice of polygamy (which was renounced by the church in the 19th century) and its exclusion of African Americans from the priesthood (until 1978) … That sort of thing.”
http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/03/for-those-unfamiliar-with-dylan-byers-and-politico/
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