Student received a book of mormon

[BOMC]

Yes, this post is one of the more meaningless ones that I’ve ever seen here.

There is nothing meaningless about TRUTH is there. And if you’re a Christian, you have nothing to fear regarding TBOM. The LDS Church is another story, thus the link to distinguish the two.

 

[why_me]

By the way, why me, I find it insulting that you’d assume I’d tell my child ‘anti mormonisms’. That’s absurd. I’ve studied Mormonism as a graduate student at a secular university and I am related to many very nice Mormon people. You dressed up your statement to make it sound like you’d be completely neutral, but of course the underlying message of your reply is that you’d teach your child that this what we believe, we’re right, and this is where they are wrong. I propose to be more upfront about it.

I am not assuming anything but it would seem that most on this thread would begin to relate antimormonism to the 6th grader. And they would certainly not give a balanced picture of the book and the role that it plays in the lds faith. Now I would support a balanced understanding of the book of mormon.

 

[ibkc]

I am not assuming anything but it would seem that most on this thread would begin to relate antimormonism to the 6th grader. And they would certainly not give a balanced picture of the book and the role that it plays in the lds faith. Now I would support a balanced understanding of the book of mormon.

So you’re saying that a devoutly Catholic family who believes in the absolute truth of the teachings of the Catholic Church is being “antimormon” if they teach their child that the Book of Mormon isn’t true?

To me, teaching a “balanced” understanding of other faiths is to outline what they believe, contrast it briefly with what we believe, state that the followers of different religions are good people who believe things that we know are not true, and leave it at that.

I don’t think that teaching that all religions are equally true is going to be very helpful if a parent is conscientiously trying to raise a child in the faith. If your method of teaching consists of “This is what we believe and this is what Mormons believe and THEY’RE BOTH OK, FINE AND DANDY!” then you can hardly be said to be raising the child in the faith. In fact it could very easily be said that you are working to undermine the child’s faith in anything.

 

[Publisher]

QUOTE=ibkc;4772451]I understand that you have no concept of absolute truth and that all religions are one big squishy happy fuzzy huggy amoeba to you; but many of us do believe in a sacred truth, and the Mormon understanding of that truth and the Catholic one are fundamentally at odds with one another. Mormons do indeed “recruit” young kids, and it can sow the seeds of doubt in a child’s mind, and eventually can lead to conflict and alienation among family members. I know; I have seen it in action myself. That they do this doesn’t make them “demons” but it does no one any favors to try to sugarcoat the fact that it goes on.

Obviously…you don’t “understand” as I too believe in “absolute truth”…your characterization of my beliefs lacks Truth in your words Friend.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

QUOTE=ibkc;4772451]I understand that you have no concept of absolute truth and that all religions are one big squishy happy fuzzy huggy amoeba to you; but many of us do believe in a sacred truth, and the Mormon understanding of that truth and the Catholic one are fundamentally at odds with one another. Mormons do indeed “recruit” young kids, and it can sow the seeds of doubt in a child’s mind, and eventually can lead to conflict and alienation among family members. I know; I have seen it in action myself. That they do this doesn’t make them “demons” but it does no one any favors to try to sugarcoat the fact that it goes on.

Obviously…you don’t “understand” as I too believe in “absolute truth”…your characterization of my beliefs lacks Truth in your words Friend.

Nevertheless, why would Mormon missionaries try to recruit a 12 year old?

 

[Publisher]

Obviously…you don’t “understand” as I too believe in “absolute truth”…your characterization of my beliefs lacks Truth in your words Friend.

Nevertheless, why would Mormon missionaries try to recruit a 12 year old?

Christine,

Was he trying to “recruit a 12 year old” or was a friend sharing his faith with a friend? “Recruit” sounds sinister…friends sharing with one another is what friends do. Especially 12 year old boys.

 

[ibkc]

Nevertheless, why would Mormon missionaries try to recruit a 12 year old?

Christine,

Was he trying to “recruit a 12 year old” or was a friend sharing his faith with a friend? “Recruit” sounds sinister…friends sharing with one another is what friends do. Especially 12 year old boys.

So it is semantics at issue here, right? Yes, the Mormon child’s intentions are pure. The intentions of his elders can be determined with less clarity. None of this means that we encourage our Catholic children to investigate the LDS church as if it is equal in truth to our Catholic faith. We tell our children that Mormons are nice people, but misguided, and we explain why in a way that is appropriate for a 12-year-old.

 

[Publisher]

Christine,

Was he trying to “recruit a 12 year old” or was a friend sharing his faith with a friend? “Recruit” sounds sinister…friends sharing with one another is what friends do. Especially 12 year old boys.

So it is semantics at issue here, right? Yes, the Mormon child’s intentions are pure. The intentions of his elders can be determined with less clarity. None of this means that we encourage our Catholic children to investigate the LDS church as if it is equal in truth to our Catholic faith. We tell our children that Mormons are nice people, but misguided, and we explain why in a way that is appropriate for a 12-year-old.

But we are not speaking of the elders…we are discussing, from what I have understood…two friends of different faiths sharing with one another…and one friend gave the other friend a book which is very dear to him in his understanding of God…as you said…his intentions were “pure”.

 

[nebula]

There is nothing meaningless about TRUTH is there. And if you’re a Christian, you have nothing to fear regarding TBOM. The LDS Church is another story, thus the link to distinguish the two.

Been there, done that. I have deep disagreements with Mormon theology and since we are here to debate…

 

[nebula]

I am not assuming anything but it would seem that most on this thread would begin to relate antimormonism to the 6th grader. And they would certainly not give a balanced picture of the book and the role that it plays in the lds faith. Now I would support a balanced understanding of the book of mormon.

What does ‘balanced’ mean? That’s the problem. People are giving replies that they think are honest and reflect the truth. Since you believe in teh BoM it’s not possible for you to be happy with a perspective that takes a position of disagreement, but I don’t see how that is ‘antimormonism’. It would be as if I told my child that many people think Dianetics is an important book that talks about deep truths, but that they are nonetheless mistaken. I am guessing you can imagine a similar conversation. Now put in the Book of Mormon.

 

[ibkc]

So it is semantics at issue here, right? Yes, the Mormon child’s intentions are pure. The intentions of his elders can be determined with less clarity. None of this means that we encourage our Catholic children to investigate the LDS church as if it is equal in truth to our Catholic faith. We tell our children that Mormons are nice people, but misguided, and we explain why in a way that is appropriate for a 12-year-old.

But we are not speaking of the elders…we are discussing, from what I have understood…two friends of different faiths sharing with one another…and one friend gave the other friend a book which is very dear to him in his understanding of God…as you said…his intentions were “pure”.

And your point is? I saw no one on here denigrating the Mormon child; but it is well-known that ADULT Mormons do encourage their children to proselytize. That is a practice that we have every right to criticize. The Catholic Church does not encourage sowing seeds of doubt in children of other faiths, so it should be expected that we would look askance at followers of other religions who do this. It is a direct interference in the child’s family and it can undermine parental authority.

 

[BOMC]

Been there, done that. I have deep disagreements with Mormon theology and since we are here to debate…

Done what? Figured out that the LDS Church has no basis in TBOM? I would like to hear that.

 

[Publisher]

But we are not speaking of the elders…we are discussing, from what I have understood…two friends of different faiths sharing with one another…and one friend gave the other friend a book which is very dear to him in his understanding of God…as you said…his intentions were “pure”.

And your point is? I saw no one on here denigrating the Mormon child; but it is well-known that ADULT Mormons do encourage their children to proselytize. That is a practice that we have every right to criticize. The Catholic Church does not encourage sowing seeds of doubt in children of other faiths, so it should be expected that we would look askance at followers of other religions who do this. It is a direct interference in the child’s family and it can undermine parental authority.

**Do not Catholics do the same for their children…do they not encourage Catholic children to share their faith? If by doing so…could it be said that they are undermining the “parental authority” of the one being shared with? I would think that any child whether they be Quaker, Mormon or Catholic would want to share the joy of their faith with no thought of “undermining” anyone’s “parental authority”. **

 

[nebula]

Done what? Figured out that the LDS Church has no basis in TBOM? I would like to hear that.

lol what? I have come to the conclusion that the BoM is not scripture.

 

[BOMC]

lol what? I have come to the conclusion that the BoM is not scripture.

Was that a canned response? What was the thread about? Whether the LDS Church has its basis in TBOM. And you’re answer had no relevance.

By letting the child know TBOM bears no relation to the LDS Church, he has nothing to fear.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

So it is semantics at issue here, right? Yes, the Mormon child’s intentions are pure. The intentions of his elders can be determined with less clarity. None of this means that we encourage our Catholic children to investigate the LDS church as if it is equal in truth to our Catholic faith. We tell our children that Mormons are nice people, but misguided, and we explain why in a way that is appropriate for a 12-year-old.

But we are not speaking of the elders…we are discussing, from what I have understood…two friends of different faiths sharing with one another…and one friend gave the other friend a book which is very dear to him in his understanding of God…as you said…his intentions were “pure”.

**Here is what the original poster said:

“Hey,
A grade 6 student of mine in the catechism class I am helping out in was telling me about this book someone gave him. Well, yesterday he brought it in and it is a book of mormon with a note inside from the persons who gave it to him.”

A note inside from the persons who gave it to him, doesn’t sound like his 12 year old Mormon buddy gave it to him.**

 

[ibkc]

And your point is? I saw no one on here denigrating the Mormon child; but it is well-known that ADULT Mormons do encourage their children to proselytize. That is a practice that we have every right to criticize. The Catholic Church does not encourage sowing seeds of doubt in children of other faiths, so it should be expected that we would look askance at followers of other religions who do this. It is a direct interference in the child’s family and it can undermine parental authority.

Do not Catholics do the same for their children…do they not encourage Catholic children to share their faith? If by doing so…could it be said that they are undermining the “parental authority” of the one being shared?

No, not in this way. No handing out of unasked-for Catholic bibles and no unsolicited invitations for children to attend church without asking the parents first. It’s just flat-out not how we do it. Faiths which aggressively proselytize work in this way and that includes Mormons, JWs, and many types of evangelicals and pentecostals. Their one goal is to get as many converts as they can and they do not care about the damage they do to families. Catholics believe that children should be raised to be well-grounded in the faith and if they aren’t, then conversion should be left to happen when the person is old enough to make that decision on their own.

 

[Publisher]

But we are not speaking of the elders…we are discussing, from what I have understood…two friends of different faiths sharing with one another…and one friend gave the other friend a book which is very dear to him in his understanding of God…as you said…his intentions were “pure”.

**Here is what the original poster said:

“Hey,
A grade 6 student of mine in the catechism class I am helping out in was telling me about this book someone gave him. Well, yesterday he brought it in and it is a book of mormon with a note inside from the persons who gave it to him.”

A note inside from the persons who gave it to him, doesn’t sound like his 12 year old Mormon buddy gave it to him.**

If** a friend did not give it to him…then my assumtions are incorrect and I misunderstood…I appear not to be alone in that matter though…but incorrect and mistaken just the same. **

 

[nebula]

Do not Catholics do the same for their children…do they not encourage Catholic children to share their faith? If by doing so…could it be said that they are undermining the “parental authority” of the one being shared?

No, not in this way. No handing out of unasked-for Catholic bibles and no unsolicited invitations for children to attend church without asking the parents first. It’s just flat-out not how we do it. Faiths which aggressively proselytize work in this way and that includes Mormons, JWs, and many types of evangelicals and pentecostals. Their one goal is to get as many converts as they can and they do not care about the damage they do to families. Catholics believe that children should be raised to be well-grounded in the faith and if they aren’t, then conversion should be left to happen when the person is old enough to make that decision on their own.

I agree, befriending people with the ultimate intention of converting them is an honest theme in mormon talks and writings. Mormons do not mean ill by this, but all the same it’s method. Mormons often make specific numerical goals that they share with others (missionaries, or a goal set by the whole ward etc) of the number of peopel they will try to get to come to a church function. Take it how you want to.

 

[nebula]

Was that a canned response? What was the thread about? Whether the LDS Church has its basis in TBOM. And you’re answer had no relevance.

By letting the child know TBOM bears no relation to the LDS Church, he has nothing to fear.

BOMC? We’re in two different conversations. If you want to knwo my perspective on how the BoM fits into the LDS church over its history, I’d be happy to share that with you. It’s not entirely straightforward.