Z
zerinus
Guest
The couple of emails sent to (mainly) Catholic members of CAF entitled “Confronting the New Mormon Threat” have received some attention on the boards recently. That deserves a “Mormon” reply, which I shall endeavour to provide.
Is Mormonism a “threat” to Catholicism, or to any other Christian church for that matter? Are they right to be concerned by its steep rise and rapidly gaining acceptance in society? Is the Mormon “threat” real? The answer is yes! To them it is! And there is nothing “new” in that threat either. It was a “threat” to them from the moment it was established, which is the underlying cause of all the persecution that the Church has received at their hands. All Christian churches feel that threat form them, and when they have been honest they have freely acknowledged it.
Several years ago I was passing by an ornate and attractive Anglican church. I decided to go inside and have a look. The minister also happened to be there, and when he saw me wondering about his church, he came up to me and started chatting. He appeared to have a congenial and very outgoing personality, and able to talk to strangers freely. Full of smiles, he stated a conversation. He said, “What is your story?” I said, “I am a Mormon.” When I said that, he jumped two feet in the air as if a snake had bitten him. His smile turned into a frown, and a look of fear and deep concern appeared on his face. But he was perfectly honest. He said, “You are a threat!” He said, “You teach that Christianity is apostate, and all churches have gone wrong, and your church is the only true restored church, and that makes you a threat” (or words to that effect; I am paraphrasing from memory what he said).
Well, they are right about that. We are a threat to them—in that sense of the term. We are no threat to anybody who wants to be saved; but we are a threat to their false and dead religions, if they want to adhere to it tenaciously instead of acknowledging the validity of the Restoration. This is what is taught in modern LDS scripture:
D&C 10:
53 And for this cause have I said: If this generation harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them.
54 Now I do not say this to destroy my church, but I say this to build up my church;
55 Therefore, whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.
56 But it is they who do not fear me, neither keep my commandments but build up churches unto themselves to get gain, yea, and all those that do wickedly and build up the kingdom of the devil—yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that it is they that I will disturb, and cause to tremble and shake to the center.
57 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not.
58 I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.
The purpose of this Church is to “shake them to the very centre;” so of course they are fearful and apprehensive, and feel “threatened” by it. So would I be, if I were in their position. This is the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. It is a restoration of the original Church of Christ. It is the kingdom that Daniel saw, which destroyed all other kingdoms (and churches), but itself grew to “fill the earth,” and endured forever. Any church or kingdom that will not acknowledge it, will be destroyed by it. So of course they will fear, and feel threatened by it. Here is more of what the Lord has said about this Restored Church:
D&C 84:
41 But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.
42 And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels charge concerning you.
74 Verily, verily, I say unto you, they who believe not on your words, and are not baptized in water in my name, for the remission of their sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, shall be damned, and shall not come into my Father’s kingdom where my Father and I am.
75 And this revelation unto you, and commandment, is in force from this very hour upon all the world, and the gospel is unto all who have not received it.
Of course this Church is a threat to all existing churches. It is destined to deatroy every single one of them that will not acknowledge its authority.
Continued . . .\
Is Mormonism a “threat” to Catholicism, or to any other Christian church for that matter? Are they right to be concerned by its steep rise and rapidly gaining acceptance in society? Is the Mormon “threat” real? The answer is yes! To them it is! And there is nothing “new” in that threat either. It was a “threat” to them from the moment it was established, which is the underlying cause of all the persecution that the Church has received at their hands. All Christian churches feel that threat form them, and when they have been honest they have freely acknowledged it.
Several years ago I was passing by an ornate and attractive Anglican church. I decided to go inside and have a look. The minister also happened to be there, and when he saw me wondering about his church, he came up to me and started chatting. He appeared to have a congenial and very outgoing personality, and able to talk to strangers freely. Full of smiles, he stated a conversation. He said, “What is your story?” I said, “I am a Mormon.” When I said that, he jumped two feet in the air as if a snake had bitten him. His smile turned into a frown, and a look of fear and deep concern appeared on his face. But he was perfectly honest. He said, “You are a threat!” He said, “You teach that Christianity is apostate, and all churches have gone wrong, and your church is the only true restored church, and that makes you a threat” (or words to that effect; I am paraphrasing from memory what he said).
Well, they are right about that. We are a threat to them—in that sense of the term. We are no threat to anybody who wants to be saved; but we are a threat to their false and dead religions, if they want to adhere to it tenaciously instead of acknowledging the validity of the Restoration. This is what is taught in modern LDS scripture:
D&C 10:
53 And for this cause have I said: If this generation harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them.
54 Now I do not say this to destroy my church, but I say this to build up my church;
55 Therefore, whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.
56 But it is they who do not fear me, neither keep my commandments but build up churches unto themselves to get gain, yea, and all those that do wickedly and build up the kingdom of the devil—yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that it is they that I will disturb, and cause to tremble and shake to the center.
57 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not.
58 I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.
The purpose of this Church is to “shake them to the very centre;” so of course they are fearful and apprehensive, and feel “threatened” by it. So would I be, if I were in their position. This is the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. It is a restoration of the original Church of Christ. It is the kingdom that Daniel saw, which destroyed all other kingdoms (and churches), but itself grew to “fill the earth,” and endured forever. Any church or kingdom that will not acknowledge it, will be destroyed by it. So of course they will fear, and feel threatened by it. Here is more of what the Lord has said about this Restored Church:
D&C 84:
41 But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.
42 And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels charge concerning you.
74 Verily, verily, I say unto you, they who believe not on your words, and are not baptized in water in my name, for the remission of their sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, shall be damned, and shall not come into my Father’s kingdom where my Father and I am.
75 And this revelation unto you, and commandment, is in force from this very hour upon all the world, and the gospel is unto all who have not received it.
Of course this Church is a threat to all existing churches. It is destined to deatroy every single one of them that will not acknowledge its authority.
Continued . . .\
