Welcome to MormonVoices. Our volunteers respond to public discussions and comments from public figures that misrepresent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We encourage and direct Mormons to get involved in online discussions and thereby help shape the public understanding and perceptions of the Church. Please join your voice with ours, and become a member of MormonVoices.

MormonVoices is an independent organization that is supportive of, but not
controlled by or affiliated with, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

22 October 2012

President Monson Visits Church Members in Germany

October 21, 2012

mormonnewsroom.org

“Deutschland, ich liebe dich!” (“Germany, I love you!”) was the greeting from Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to the German members recently.

He visited and spoke to Latter-day Saints in Hamburg, Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt, Germany in mid-October.

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/president-monson-visits-church-members-in-germany

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Embattled Mormon blogger leaves LDS Church

October 22, 2012

Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)

Rather than wait for possible excommunication from the LDS Church, Mormon blogger David Twede has resigned his membership in the Utah-based faith.

Twede — who was accused of apostasy for writing critical web essays about LDS history, temple worship and contemporary issues — took the action during an “open mic session” last week at the Exmormon Foundation’s annual conference at the DoubleTree Suites in Salt Lake City.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/55128570-78/church-twede-lds-mormon.html.csp

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

An update on anti-Mormon voters

October 22, 2012

NewsOK (Oklahoma)

Many will be offended by what they believe are the intolerant, narrow teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on marriage. Others will be worried about Mormonism’s history of opposing abortion rights.

“There really is a large group of people in America who won’t vote for Mitt Romney for president because he is a Mormon,” noted Weekly Standard editor Fred Barnes, in a recent Institute on Religion and Democracy lecture.

“It’s a very large group and there is a name for them — liberals.”

http://newsok.com/an-update-on-anti-mormon-voters/article/3721354

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mormon Tabernacle Choir plans Midwest tour

October 22, 2012

Janesville Gazette (Wisconsin)

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra is planning a tour through the Midwest this summer.

Officials for the 360-voice choir and 65-member orchestra say the tour will include stops in Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis; Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, Wis; and Minneapolis. Tour dates run from June 12 through June 20.

It’s the first time the group has visited the upper Midwest since 2009.

http://gazettextra.com/weblogs/latest-news/2012/oct/22/mormon-tabernacle-choir-plans-midwest-tour/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

News roundup: Anti-Mormon billboard outside prez debate tonight

October 22, 2012

Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)

Meanwhile, an Athiest group plans to drive a “Shame on Mormonism” billboard around the debate site tonight in Florida. [Patheos] On a totally different note, a Texas church announces to its congregants to “Vote for the Mormon, not the Muslim,” breaking federal law as a tax-exempt organization.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsoutofcontext/55124536-64/trib-romney-obama-campaign.html.csp

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TX church says ‘vote for the Mormon, not the Muslim!’

October 22, 2012

WAFB (Texas)

A small-town Texas church is causing a big-time controversy by putting up a sign that says: “Vote for the Mormon, not the Muslim! The capitalist, not the communist!”

“I can see why there’s some controversy because some people think that the separation of church and state, maybe they shouldn’t get involved in it,” said a Leakey resident. “But I don’t see no problem with them trying to send a message and wake some people up.”

http://www.wafb.com/story/19877233/tx-church-says-vote-for-the-mormon-not-the-muslim

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mormon church a widely diverse entity in Sacramento region

October 22, 2012

At 9 o’clock Sunday mornings, as many as 400 Tongans, Samoans, Maori and other Pacific Islanders fill the Mormon Church south of Florin Road to sing and pray in Tongan with a smattering of English.

They’re followed at 11 o’clock by about 300 Marshall Islanders and Fijians in Marshallese, Fijian and English.

Two miles away in Oak Park, 200 Hmong Mormons get services and songs in Hmong and English.

After the 11 a.m. Hmong service, about 200 Mormon Latinos arrive for services in Spanish for immigrants from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Spain.

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/22/4928175/mormon-church-a-widely-diverse.html

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

‘Shame on Mormonism’: American Atheists question Romney’s faith

October 21, 2012

Examiner

American Atheists want Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to answer questions about the treatment of African-Americans and gays by the Mormon Church. American Atheists want to know if a President Mitt Romney will “give his first priority to the U.S. Constitution or the Book of Mormon?”

The controversial atheist organization is launching a mobile billboard calling attention to the fact that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints openly discriminated against all dark skinned people, including African Americans, until 1978, and currently opposes marriage equality and equal treatment under the law for gay and lesbian citizens.

http://www.examiner.com/article/shame-on-mormonism-american-atheists-question-romney-s-faith

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Salt Lake Tribune Endorses Obama: Says ‘Favorite Son’ Romney Can’t Be Trusted

October 22, 2012

Orlando Advocate (Florida)

Salt Lake City is the hub of Mormonism and home of the Mormon Church. Romney has been the favorite son of Salt Lake City since his admittedly remarkable handling of the 2002 Olympics saved the city from scandal and made him a source of great personal and community pride. That’s why the news of the newspaper’s endorsement of Obama has got to hurt.
The Salt Lake City Tribune came out with a scathing indictment of the man and the candidate, saying: “The president has earned a second term. Romney, in whatever guise, does not deserve a first.”

http://www.orlandoadvocate.com/index.php/93-politics/39483-salt-lake-tribune-endorses-obama-says-favorite-son-romney-can-t-be-trusted

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wall Street Proclaims: Buy Mormon! Buy Romney!

October 22, 2012

Pravda (Russia)

Seriously though, what is the gig with the Mormon religion? Do they have a sense of humor when it comes to the Prophet Smith being gunned down in a jail in Illinois in 1844? It seems strange thinking about a Prophet being thwacked in a jail and that the State of Illinois is damned because of the murder. But so goes religion and worship.

So what matters to the Mormons? And is Romney typical of Mormons in his own way?

It is money that matters of course. The Mormon church is a cash machine. They really do Trust in God. And they would feel better about the 47 to 99 percent of Americans who are freeloaders if they joined the Mormon Corporate Church.

http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/22-10-2012/122521-mormon_romney-0/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mitt Romney, underwear model?

October 22, 2012

Entertainment Weekly

The site, called Mormon’s Secret – a send-up of Victoria’s Secret? — features photos of Mitt and Ann Romney’s heads Photoshopped onto the bodies of models dressed in Mormon temple garments. A fake shot of Romney includes a thought bubble that reads, “I’m just glad they didn’t release the secret video of me dancing in my Magic Mormon underwear!!!”

http://popstyle.ew.com/2012/10/22/mitt-romney-underwear-model/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NEWS: ORIONID, DADT’S LEGACY, ADELE’S SON, IRELAND

October 22, 2012

Towleroad

The group American Atheists are taking on Mormonism’s membership clauses. The church responded thusly, “This group seems not to know that there have been black members of the Church since our earliest history, and there are many faithful gay members of the Church today.” Black men simply couldn’t be ordained as lay priests until 1978.

http://www.towleroad.com/2012/10/news-orionid-dadts-legacy-adeles-son-ireland.html

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Why is Billy Graham so involved in the 2012 elections?

October 22, 2012

Washington Post

After a recent meeting with GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association scrubbed language describing Mormonism as a “cult” from its website.

Two days later, the ministry announced a “vote biblical values” campaign, with Graham’s photo and signature accompanying a statement that opposed abortion and supported traditional marriage. Funded by specially designated donations from ministry supporters, the campaign includes newspaper ads and a website with downloadable posters and bulletin inserts.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/why-is-billy-graham-so-involved-in-the-2012-elections/2012/10/22/777315f6-1c8b-11e2-8817-41b9a7aaabc7_story.html

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Update on the latest religion news

October 22, 2012

NECN

Romney, whose Mormon faith prohibits alcohol consumption, quipped that he’s usually invited to formal events to be the designated driver.

Al Smith IV noted how generously Romney gives to the Mormon church, and joked that the Republican nominee had been invited to the dinner, not to speak, but to convert to Catholicism.

Noting that Romney has five children and that his father was born in Mexico, Smith asked him, “Are you sure you’re not Catholic?”

http://www.necn.com/10/22/12/Update-on-the-latest-religion-news/landing_health.html?&apID=8a0b21a49b884c11bd083b4d73d39972

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Mitt Romney You Don’t Know (Yet)

October 22, 2012

Forbes

CBS’ guest is author Jeffrey Benedict, who has written a book about highly successful Mormon businessmen which has been newly reissued with a chapter about Mitt Romney.

What comes across – and surely this is not unique to Mormons, nor likely universal among them, although one strongly suspects it is encouraged and refined by the faith – is the fundamental decency, the goodness and caring and humanity of Mitt Romney.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/10/22/the-mitt-romney-you-dont-know-yet/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What Google Knows About the Presidential Race

October 22, 2012

Technology Review

“There is nice news for Mitt Romney in the Google data, too: voting searches are higher in Idaho Falls and Salt Lake City, the two media markets with the largest Mormon populations. While neither Idaho nor Utah is a swing state, increased Mormon turnout might help Mr. Romney somewhat in two important swing states: Nevada (7 percent Mormon) and Colorado (3 percent Mormon).”

http://www.technologyreview.com/view/429720/what-google-knows-about-the-presidential-race/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The 22 Documentaries You Need To Watch Before the Election

October 22, 2012

Moviefone

“8: The Mormon Proposition” (2010)
With referenda on gay marriage on the ballots in several states this year, it’s a good time to look back at the especially bitter battle over one such initiative four years ago in California. Directors Reed Cowan and Steven Greenstreet take pains to point out how much of the support of the anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 came from the Mormon Church, which did a superb job organizing and fundraising in favor of the measure. The filmmakers see something conspiratorial here, though maybe it’s just effective politicking. There’s also a section on how Mormons who are also gay feel shunned by their church. Since one of the elders of that church may soon be president, this film may offer a suggestion of where the gay rights struggle is headed if Mitt Romney wins the presidency.

http://news.moviefone.com/2012/10/22/best-political-documentaries-watch-before-election_n_2001420.html?1350930662#slide=1669545

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mitt Romney’s Great Lie the Media and Christians are Ignoring

October 22, 2012

Christian News Wire

This is also not about politics. This is about spiritual issues, which are the real problems our nation faces. Mitt Romney and those in his cult like Glenn Back, LIE every time they call themselves Christian. Mormon doctrine is clearly 100% inconsistent with Biblical Christianity. While they claim they are Christians because the name of their cult is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, that doesn’t make them Christians any more than if they called themselves giraffes would make them giraffes!

Mitt Romney, and all Mormon men believe that if they follow the beliefs of their cult during this life, upon death they will become the “god” of their own planet. That is why when Romney and Mormons speak of “god,” it is NOT the God of the Bible Christians believe in, but a “god” who was once a man and ascended to become “god” of this planet.

http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/3082270687.html

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NOTE: This is posted for those who are interested in keeping abreast what is being said around the world about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members. MormonVoices cannot and does not guarantee the validity or truthfulness of any information reported. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of this information lies with the reader. As all information comes from other news sources and has not been independently verified, MormonVoices cannot guarantee or be responsible for the security of links in the clipping service. MormonVoices will attempt as much as possible to exclude news articles containing strongly offensive language or which lead to offensive images, but cannot guarantee that some will not slip through.

Don't panic! You are in the right place!

MDL.org is now MormonVoices.org

Mormon Defense League is now “Mormon Voices” and our new URL is www.mormonvoices.org. You have automatically been forwarded to our new website. Our mission is the same, but our emphasis will be to help members become involved in critical conversations online.