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gamewell45
Guest
That’s a very good observation; I don’t mix religion with Freemasonry.
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lax16
Guest
Hi Parker - Do Mormon leaders visit the Vatican to become more knowledgeable about Catholic beliefs?
Should they? Will they once they are in Rome?
How is visiting a building going to increase one’s knowledge of a religion? Isn’t it through the study of LDS teachings that one learns what Mormons believe?
I am pretty familiar with temple tours living here in Utah and I don’t get the impression it is an attempt to get people to understand LDS beliefs as much as it is to wow them with the fancy stuff. You know, the “heaven on earth” pitch.
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Timothy17
Guest
If only you would give even half of that same belief and conviction to Christ.
Pax,
Tim
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ParkerD
Guest
Lax16,
Hi and good day to you.
The temple open houses are for several different reasons, and I suppose they may come across as “wowing” people (though I have never seen or heard that response as I have watched people and been with them as a bystander as they have gone to a temple open house as someone from another religion). The non-members come out of curiosity, mostly, I think. They are told what happens in the temple after it is dedicated, and come to understand why there are several rooms rather than only one large assembly room. Maybe since you already knew about LDS beliefs before going, nothing was new to you in the tour and so it didn’t seem you were there to “understand LDS beliefs”, but those with negative feelings about the idea of “LDS temple work” can at least come away with a better understanding about why the LDS do those temple ordinances.
I have never been to the Vatican, but if I were to go there I wouldn’t be going thinking it was going to be like an “open house” tour–more like a tourist type of tour but with the added significance of visiting a sacred place held sacred by many, many people. But I’m sure that would be a very different feeling I would have about being there than Catholics would have in visiting there.
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catsrus
Guest
I know A LOT about the mormons and A LOT of mormons and I can guarentee you I do not “fear” or “mistrust” them in the least. I also do not “need” to know any more than that they are polytheists begun by a kid who engaged in freemasonry and false “translating” from non existant sources, though I do know more.
As a Catholic Christian, I find all that VERY disturbing and will not support it in any way.
That said, I’ve known some wonderful people who are mormons; but am not interested in promoting or visiting their “temple” in Rome.
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Marie5890
Guest
I thank God, literally, for the internet, for the very reasons you state. People of good will and honest integrity who are sincerely curious about the LDS faith need only do a little research to see clearly the theology of Mormonism, notwithstanding the goodness of it’s people.
Mormons are nice people. It’s their theology that is heresy and leads away from Truth.
They are people with good intentions, but are deceived in what they are taught.
I pray for them always. Remember, that many of them have never been baptized with a valid baptism. Because of that they, right off the bat, are starting off from a place of where they dont even have that sacramental grace to start from.
I will always be grateful to my parents for having me baptized as an infant. Even though I strayed, that grace never left me, and I returned.
I will forever encourage anyone whose denomination that has a valid baptism to baptize their children. That sacramental grace is imperative in this day and age.
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ParkerD
Guest
Cats R Us,
If you don’t think that your use of that word was based on “mistrust”, then perhaps you don’t know what the word “mistrust” means. You might look up the meaning of both of those words and see how they are related.
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Marie5890
Guest
Nothing personally directed at you, Parker. But I do think that ant who thinks that Vatican “mistrusts” the LDS church either doesnt grasp the confidence the Holy See has in the Chair of Peter (ask the Orthodox Church on that point).
The Vatican has zero reason to be fearful or mistrust Mormons or the LDS Church. It’s one of the many American Protestant churches that have popped up over a couple of centuries. No offense but no big deal either.
I am curious as to why you would think there is “mistrust” or “fear” in the leadership aimed at Mormonism?
.
Anyone who has listened to the concerns of the Pope or the other bishops knows that their concerns arent even remotely focused there.
Their focus is full force on the problems of secularism and relativism. Not Mormonism
Feel free to read their writing. They never mention Mormonism. Never.
Nothing supports the idea that there is some sort of mistrust or fear of Mormons. Nothing.
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gamewell45
Guest
Timothy, since you don’t know me personally making a statement like that without actual knowledge is completely out of line and uncalled for. Please do not challenge my religious convictions.
Peace.
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mtolympus
Guest
The problem is, that there is more than one definition of “Christian.” Most of the general public thinks that a Christian is a believer and follower of Jesus Christ which we certainly are. Those who insist LDS are not Christian do so because we do not believe in the Trinity as defined in the Nicean Creed.You’re lucky you are saying that HERE, Po18guy. If you so much much as whisper “Mormons are Not Christian” publicly, you get your head handed back to you.
Mormons are not on the “we’ll ruin your life” mode of let’s say, Scientologists, but they ARE ferociously protective of certain assumptions about their faith.
Witness what happened when Al Sharpton said the same thing publicly----Mitt Romney, Glenn Beck, and half the media was tearing him a new rectum within hours. He even had to go on Beck’s show and overexplain himself all over the place.
So you are lucky, believe me.
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JeanMichel
Guest
I understand that two Mormon apostles met with Pope Benedict in New York at a prayer meeting of sorts. If I remember properly the Mormons asked to be included. I think it was the first time that Mormon leadership specifically sought out an opportunity to meet with the pontiff.
I wonder if leaders ask for a time to meet with the Pontiff when their temple will be dedicated. It would seem a perfect opportunity to be respectful to the Bishop of Rome. It would surprise me if the Pope visited their temple, but it would not surprise me if he sent a representative as a courtesty and as another step toward expanding the relationship. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds.
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zerinus
Guest
The LDS Church was not invited to that prayer meeting initially. I am guessing that the reason why they were not invited was because of the fear that they might not attend, because of the frictions that had existed between them. I am still guessing that the reason why the Mormons asked to attend was in part at least to dispel that fear.
I hope a meeting of some kind will take place. I think it would be appropriate if it did.
I am sure they will be invited. Usually when there is an open house a day is set aside for prominent members of society like civic and religious leaders to attend by invitation. I think it would be great if the Pope came for a visit!
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tundramom
Guest
Why do all of you think we “fear” you? We don’t!
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zerinus
Guest
Because we have Patriot missiles installed in Salt Lake City.
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tundramom
Guest
that’s YOUR problem. Sadly, with all the conspiracy theories going around and the people who store food and munitions, your joke isn’t all that funny. I lived in Orem and know way too many survivalist types who would take it as a war cry.
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LongJourney
Guest
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleon_Skousen
Some read the BoM in such a way that reinforces that kind of thinking. It is very easy to read that into the book. I have just finished a revision of the chapter in my book which offended Pahoran. As soon as it goes up, I will link it as an apology to mainstream Mormons.
Some read the BoM in such a way that reinforces that kind of thinking. It is very easy to read that into the book. I have just finished a revision of the chapter in my book which offended Pahoran. As soon as it goes up, I will link it as an apology to mainstream Mormons.
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ParkerD
Guest
TundraMom,
Perhaps you stand alone in not experiencing that deep-seated “feeling of anxiety, apprehension of impending ‘evil’ or ‘danger’” or that feeling of “suspicion, doubt, lack of confidence” when you think about, write about, or talk about LDS people or their beliefs (including their belief in the Book of Mormon) or the history of their church. (Those are definitions of “fear” and “mistrust”.)
But as far as the many who post remarks that have those very elements embedded in the comments (all one has to do is read them), it is using the right words to describe the emotional response that is more than anything else based on misunderstanding.
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Marie5890
Guest
Well I expect TundraMom doesnt stand alone.
I certainly have no fear knowing full well LDS belief system.
I bet others who have been LDS or expose to them, like Rebecca, also know there is nothing to be afraid of.
Parker I think were you are misunderstand fear is that it’s not fear.
Those of us who have been LDS aren’t afraid of it. We just know that is spreads untruth and misleads people. We want to correct that.
Is that fear? No. It’s following the commission of our baptism to promote the truth which is the accurate understand of Christ.
Please feel free to get on your knees and ask God if I fear Mormonism. He knows my heart.
I dont.
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ParkerD
Guest
Marie5890,
Yes, by definition it is, since those words imply “apprehension of impending ‘evil’ or ‘danger’”.
It is not “fear of impending doom” or “fear that they might be right”. It is the thinking process and the emotional response that together lead to the kind of word choice you used.
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utah_rose
Guest
They are NOT a Christian religion. They believe in “many gods” and don’t believe in the Trinity as other Christians do. Yes, their temples are beautiful, but their ceremonies and beliefs are Masonic.
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