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SAVINGRACE
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That’s good news. We should all keep good relationships with each other.
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Horton
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This in no way backs up the claim the LDS are similar to Catholics. Although I do find it fascinating how often meetings with the Pope are used by the LDS to somehow validate their claim of Christianity. Since the LDS believe they are the ONE true church on earth why do they seek such affirmation from the Pope?
From the article linked below. It was an interfaith meeting including Protestant churches, Rabbis and other faith leaders.
Meeting participants also included representatives from the Pentecostal church, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and the Church of Latter-Day Saints.
ncregister.com/daily-news/humanum-conference-highlights-sanctity-and-beauty-of-marriage
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Mammoths
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I like all the mormons I ever met–even the one I had a recreational fistfight with. I have noticed a superficial similarity between Catholicism and Mormonism. Both are prolife, pro family, conservative morality, have top down authority structure. Use similar names within the structure although for different positions. They have several chapels under one temple which is remeniscent of parish churches being organized under a cathedral. They have a living apostle with binding authority for doctrine faith and practice.
In my opinion, the similarities are evidence that the Catholic Church is the true church. A Mormon priest, a bishop, who I spent some length of discussion with, said a catholic priest gave him the acknowledgement that one thing the Mormon church has is “it’s either us or them because the Mormon church claims the church was lost and then restored. The Catholic Church claims the church was never lost” In my mind it seems implausible the church could ever be lost considering it is protected by the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep.
I believe the superficial similarities are indicative of a counterfeit operation of the devil or man because while it looks much alike at a glance, the content is very different. A good photocopy of currency may fool the careless tourist long enough to count for change, but he certainly won’t be spending it again.
In my opinion, the similarities are evidence that the Catholic Church is the true church. A Mormon priest, a bishop, who I spent some length of discussion with, said a catholic priest gave him the acknowledgement that one thing the Mormon church has is “it’s either us or them because the Mormon church claims the church was lost and then restored. The Catholic Church claims the church was never lost” In my mind it seems implausible the church could ever be lost considering it is protected by the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep.
I believe the superficial similarities are indicative of a counterfeit operation of the devil or man because while it looks much alike at a glance, the content is very different. A good photocopy of currency may fool the careless tourist long enough to count for change, but he certainly won’t be spending it again.
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mackbrislawn
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Peter_J
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I suppose you could say that.
Then again, I think that Calvinists and Methodists are closer than they like to admit, and Baptists and Catholics are closer than they like to admit, and Orthodox and Lutherans are closer than they like to admit, and Anglicans and Pentecostals are closer than they like to admit.
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Marie5890
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Right out of the Mormon myth bag I suspect.
A Catholic priest would never say this. Why?
Well for one, a Catholic priest would know about the Orthodox and the schism between the east and the west. He would think, if it’s not the universal church, then its the Orthodox
Most Mormons don’t know a thing about the Orthodox. Probably aren’t even cognizant that they exist.
SMH
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Mammoths
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That sounds probable. Still the argument sets up a dichotomy whereby the Mormon religion is easily eliminated. When I meet elders now I take them to task on the ludicrous notion that Christ would lose his church. A man may lose his wife, but Christ who is God the Son can’t be deprived of his bride. Our Heavenly Father who counts the hairs on our heads can surely count his children. He knows his own and his sheep hear his voice. If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another the the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.
And after all that, the church was ever lost? What do they take me for, a child? After hearing the shepherds voice how could I believe the church would be lost. Perhaps the one goes astray and he goes to rescue the one. But the 99 are not lost.
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zaffiroborant
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In my mind it is implausible that a Catholic priest ever said that to the person you were talking with.
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Mammoths
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One thing I have noticed about Mormonism is a huge emphasis on promoting lies. Sometimes I wonder if the Mormon convert is just a person uniquely talented in believing bad ideas.In my mind it is implausible that a Catholic priest ever said that to the person you were talking with.
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Jerusha
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That is a very old story. The person who originated the story published it in 1931.In my mind it is implausible that a Catholic priest ever said that to the person you were talking with.
en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_Christianity/Strength_of_the_Mormon_position_quotation_and_source
“Implausible” is not in it. You are right, however. “Impossible” would be more appropriate. I think this was the OP’s comment, evidence that his belief is weakening as a result of exposing himself to LDS proselytization.
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mackbrislawn
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Another problem is that if we admit to the idea that the church was abandoned by God and then restored, how do we know that it won’t happen again? That the “restored” church won’t be again lost?
This would imply a fickle God.
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Mammoths
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Well, that story is internally inconsistent. I can imagine possibly an inexperienced priest with not much sparing practice carelessly saying “you or us.” A great doctor–it hurts my cheeks to laugh so hard.
However, since they claim that dichotomy, it is real easy to just accept it for the sake of argument and show that the whole idea Christ lost his church on this continent or the other is beyond obsurd. And while we’re at it, there must be some level on which that absurdity puts a dent in the armor of the Protestantism.
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zaffiroborant
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The tales inconsistencies aside what you describe is a contemporary LDS bishop retelling this tale as his own experience. To me this is him lying plain and simple, he gave you no names, not of the priest, the Catholic church he was affiliated with, the location this took place. He gave you nothing but a tale told by others, claiming it happened to him. A lot like Paul H. Dunn who told outright lies about his life in order to create “faith promoting” stories. It’s an LDS thing.
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Mammoths
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Not only is he Mormon, but he is a freight broker. There simply has never been an honest man who brokers freight. So it’s a for-gone conclusion he was lying. It’s tangential, but I ignore everything these people say on work orders until it’s in writing. 90% of the conversations I have with freight brokers include a transparent case of deception–I talk with scads of these guys every week.
Another big lie mormons tell is how they were persecuted for their faith. In fact, Joseph smith was promoting more than just another testement and polygamy. He was telling the church to buy all the land in MO, and he had formed an independent militia. The revolutionary war at that time was fresh in history and suffrage was on the basis of land ownership. Accordingly the government saw the LDS movement as a seditious movement much like the Feds would have characterized the David Koresh movement in the 90s. Joseph smith wasn’t killed as a martyr for his religion. He was killed with a gun in his hand fighting for Zionism. I travel to Utah a lot as a commercial driver. In rural Utah non-LDS churches are unusual. Given the historical popularity of protestantism and evangelicalism in the rest of the country, I see only one plausible explanation–religious suppression.
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Jerusha
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@Mammoths, you are seeing it right. Sorry to assume that was your comment. Mormonism is a lie.
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Sarcelle
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What I often see in this forum is people mistaking criticism of the belief with criticism of its adherents. They are two different things.
Mormonism is not even close to Catholicism. Mormonism does not believe in the Trinity which is the cornerstone of Christianity. Catholics believe that there is no marriage in heaven, Mormons believe not only in marriage in heaven but polygamy is heavenly marriage. So many differences that the Vatican has concluded that Mormons do not have a valid Christian baptism unlike other Christian denominations.
Mormonism is not even close to Catholicism. Mormonism does not believe in the Trinity which is the cornerstone of Christianity. Catholics believe that there is no marriage in heaven, Mormons believe not only in marriage in heaven but polygamy is heavenly marriage. So many differences that the Vatican has concluded that Mormons do not have a valid Christian baptism unlike other Christian denominations.
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Horton
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The LDS are no more Christian than Hindus, the Jews, or Islam, etc… While people of all faiths may be good people and behave in what may be called a Christian manner, it does not make them Christian.
In my life I’ve run into a few LDS who were not good people, but most of them were fine people.
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Mammoths
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Precisely. It is very hard for most people to distinguish between the following:
“sir, your religion is lying to you.”
“You horrible person.”
As I said, I like every Mormon I have ever met. In fact, I have even invited one family to vacation with mine because they are the sort of people you like to be around. But their religion is false and counterfeit–plain as day.
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TOmNossor
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Hello,
I am a LDS. I am also a former Catholic. While I am well aware of differences, I see great similarities as well.
Ordained priesthood.
Claims to authority.
Sacraments : LDS have solid parallels for 6/7 Catholic Sacraments and a weak parallel for reconciliation. We are even closer after Vatican 2 restored the proper (IMO) emphasis upon Extreme Unction.
Similar resistance to societies slide. Catholics are better here if judged by binding doctrine IMO, but both of us are better than most Evangelical congregations.
There are many reasons I am a LDS and some reasons I am not a Catholic, but I would be at reconciliation in less than 24 hours if I all of the sudden discovered my church was not at all what I think it is. I do not recognize the church former Mormons here left (and they do not recognize things I see as part of Catholicism)
As I think about it. In real life there is far more wonderful things present in both our faiths than is evident in the bowels of the Internet that is our religious dialogue.
Charity, TOm
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NeuroTypical
Guest
I’ve heard something similar on more than one occasion from Jewish folks, opining about Christianity. (They don’t talk about churches, of course.)
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