Reading the results of the Pew poll about Mormonism, reminds me of what Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in "Strength to Love": "Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
The fact that two thirds of mainline Protestants and Catholics believe Mormonism is a Christian religion is an unfortunate example of both.
The Mormon faith is not the same as the Christian faith. Examples abound. Consider these few.
The Ministry of Jesus
In the 2 Nephi 5:21, in the Book of Mormon, in 600 B.C., Lehi, a Jewish prophet from the tribe of Manassah, left Jerusalem with several others, sailed east and landed in South America. Two of Lehi's sons, Lamen and Lemuel, rebelled against God. God cursed them and gave them dark skin -- birthing the Native American race. In 2 Nephi 12:3-12, in A.D. 34, Jesus Christ descended from heaven, baptized the Native Americans, called and commissioned 12 disciples, instituted sacraments, and taught the message of the Sermon on the Mount.
According to the first four gospels of the Bible, Jesus Christ lived and ministered in the region of modern-day Israel. He never appeared in the Americas.
The Virgin Birth
The Mormon Church teaches that Mary, the mother of Jesus, conceived Jesus through sexual relations with God the father. Brigham Young wrote in the Journal of Discourses 8:115, "The birth of the Savior was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood -- was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers." Likewise, the Mormon Apostle Bruce McConkie wrote, "Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers" (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, pg. 547; Read also, The Seer, by Orsen Pratt; Doctrines of Salvation Vol. 1; or The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson).
The Bible teaches that Mary, a virgin, "was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 1:18). It is a miracle that is difficult for many to understand, but not one that occurred as a result of Mary having intercourse with a human or a spiritual being.
The Spirit World
Mormons believe that God, angels and humans are the same. BYU religion professor Robert Millet clarifies this concept in "The Mormon Faith: A New Look at Christianity" (1998, pg. 39): "Latter-day Saints believe that angels are men and women, human beings, sons and daughters of God, personages of the same type as we are. Parley P. Pratt, an early apostle wrote, 'Gods, angels and men are all of one species, one race, one great family.'"
Additionally, angels are created through sexual relations, better known as "celestial exaltation" between God and his heavenly wife in the spirit world. In the LDS Church manual, Achieving a Celestial Marriage, celestial exaltation "includes the ability to procreate the family unit throughout eternity. This our Father in heaven has power to do. His marriage partner is our mother in heaven. We are their spirit children, born to them in the bonds of celestial marriage."
Spirits are gender specific, immortal and eternal: "Each [male and female] is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose" ("The Family: A Proclamation to the World," issued by the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church, 1995).
Brigham Young stated:
Mankind are organized of element designed to endure to all eternity; it never had a beginning and never can have an end. There never was a time when this matter, of which you and I are composed, was not in existence, and there never can be a time when it will pass out of existence; it cannot be annihilated.It is brought together, organized, and capacitated to receive knowledge and intelligence, to be enthroned in glory, to be made angels, Gods -- beings who will hold control over the elements, and have power by their word to command the creation and redemption of worlds, or to extinguish suns by their breath, and disorganize worlds, hurling them back into their chaotic state. This is what you and I are created for. (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 48; see also Doctrines and Covenants 93:29-33)
The Bible teaches that angels (immortals) and humans (mortals) are to worship God (the sole eternal being) their creator (Hebrews 1). Angels have taken on anthropomorphic characteristics but they are not human. They bore messages to humans from God (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:11, 26, 2:9; Acts 8:26) and assisted Jesus (Matthew 26:53; Luke 22:43) and his people (Psalm 91:11, 12; Acts 5:19; Hebrews 1:14).
Jesus and Satan
The Mormon church explicitly teaches in the Pearl of Great Price in both the books of Moses (chapter 4) and Abraham (chapter 3) that Jesus Christ and Satan are both sons of God and are not only spirit brothers to each other but are spirit brothers to humans and angels as well. Brigham Young referred to "the Devil, the mighty Lucifer, the great prince of the angels, and the brother of Jesus" in the Journal of Discourses 6:207. In an Ensign magazine (a publication of the Mormon church) answer to a question from a reader, "How can Jesus and Lucifer be spirit brothers when their characters and purposes are so utterly opposed?" the magazine stated, "On first hearing, the doctrine that Lucifer and our Lord, Jesus Christ, are brothers may seem surprising to some--especially to those unacquainted with latter-day revelations. But both the scriptures and the prophets affirm that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are indeed offspring of our Heavenly Father and, therefore, spirit brothers....But as the Firstborn of the Father, Jesus was Lucifer's older brother" (1986, pg. 25).
The Bible teaches that God has only one son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16, 17) who came to destroy the work of the devil (I John 3:8).
Both Mormonism and Christianity make very different truth claims.
Christians must know what they say they believe otherwise their claim to faith is meaningless.
James Moore: Of Corn and Presidents
Why are Muslims more religious?
It's a pity she didn't see fit to do some, um, analysis.
Her article begins with a quote from Martin Luther King: "Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." This is superbly ironic.
The punchline (it's a joke, right?) of her very first point is: "According to the first four gospels of the Bible, Jesus Christ lived and ministered in the region of modern-day Israel. He never appeared in the Americas."
So what? Please note: (1) The Book of Mormon *explicitly affirms* that Jesus' mortal ministry took place in Palestine, and (2) nothing in the Bible precludes the possibility of a post-resurrection appearance in the Americas (or indeed, anywhere else.) Ms Blankley relies upon a silly mistake in reading the Book of Mormon on the one hand, and an argument from New Testament silence on the other.
Further examples of her errors would be wearisome, but there is a better way.
A number of years ago, two BYU professors collaborated to write a book called Offenders for a Word. It can be read online at this address: http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=58
This book clearly demonstrates that Mormonism, by any objective criteria, is unquestionably Christian.
I invite Ms Blankley to read this book. She need not agree with everything it says, but at least she will then be informed on this subject.
Whether Mormons are Christian is really very simple. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and the only being through whom salvation comes or may come. Mormons believe the same. So, instead of trying to point out differences, wouldn't it be better to point out commonalities.?
http://MormonsAreChristian.blogspot.com
New Testament Christianity is closer to Jesus Christ’s teachings than Fourth Century Creeds.
Mormons have a better understanding of Christianity than any other denomination, according to a 2010 Pew Forum poll:
http://www.pewforum.org/Other-Beliefs-and-Practices/U-S-Religious-Knowledge-Survey.aspx
11 of the signers of the Declaration of Independence (including several presidents) were non-Trinitarian Christians. Those who now insist on their narrow Trinitarian and salvation only by grace definition of Christianity for candidates for public office are doing our Republic an injustice."
IT'S MY BUSINESS WHEN THEY MESS INTO MY LIFE, SUPPOSEDLY AS "CHRISTIANS"
The Jesus in my Sunday School said "let them come unto me" (LOVING)
not "their choices are wrong, I must go over there force them" (BUSYBODY)
You seems to be basing on some other baseline other than “they believe in Jesus Christ”, but you never specify what that is an in doing so must be holding yourself up as the ultimate authority, the arbiter or who get your coveted title of “Christian”.
Many in this thread will express their opinions of Mormons political behavior, personal experiences with Mormons, or be left attacking or defending either side. Some will tackle the case for Mormonism being Christian or Non-Christian much better and more intelligently than your article has. I would rather address the fact that it was a terribly written article that one would expect from a local pastor, not an online publication that hopes to be taken seriously.
So Bethany, why don’t you try again.Write an article explaining what your definition of a Christian is. Short of that, you are just using your position to spout your uniformed opinion, incite anger, and perpetuate stereotypes.
They were asked this in church services!
The LDS member's money bought the lies and the hate to be able to pass Prop 8.
We're talking 20 Million dollars, all to stop a loving marriage. What do they care?
It is not their marriage and do you see groups TRYING to stop what the LDS church sees as loving as nice?
Let's ban the strange temple ceremonies.
Let's ban the baptizing the dead.
Let's stops the rituals and the sealings that the LDS do for weddings.
SOME find it offensive, so IT'S got to go...
Would the LDS church like the government to STOP the practice of not ALLOWING NON LDS family members to a temple wedding??
Thats pretty cold if you ask me. (been there done that!)
Wake up and realize that the DOOR swings both ways....
After all there are billion dollar malls to build! In the name of the Lord,
Let's get busy!
I do not remember "CHOOSING" to be straight, I just was...
**Let the country expose ALL hate groups.
Like it or now, you, like all of us, chose your lifestyle every day of life. Are you not the one that has chosen to be a hate group of one? It seems you hate all groups that are different from you. Too bad you can't be as kind and loving to others as you seemingly want them to be to you.
Links to your own people:
Boyd K Packer tells fathers not to allow Gay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zZ5YYfuSZQ
Two of your elders put "same gender attraction" in the category of "crippled"
http://newsroom.lds.org/official-statement/same-gender-attraction
Your super-slick spokesman says "we know it hard when you have those feelings, but you are going to be unhappy if you dont control them" (paraphrase)
DISTORTIONS AND LIES from ProtectMarriage.com
http://www.protectmarriage.com/article/first-graders-taken-to-san-francisco-city-hall-for-gay-wedding
THE TRUE VERSION on ABC -- your guys refused to stop using pics of kids to lie to the public
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=6471449
Dirty commercial using mormons who moved to liberal dist. in Mass, then made a huge fuss over the school doing what the majority liberal parents wantedf
http://www.protectmarriage.com/video/view/6
This manipulative crap meant to scare parents, and get the Black vote
http://www.protectmarriage.com/video/view/9
AND MANY MORE -- UTAH MORMONS INVADED CALIFORNIA, where mormon voters are about 1/8 as many as Gays
He, like many Mormons, believe in an absolute truth, not a situational one. He believes that certain practices are destructive of humanity and salvation. Yes, he and many others believe that the tendencies to be gay may in fact be inherent. But he, like many others, believe practicing a gay lifestyle is a choice.
Mr. Packer believes that God has declared that certain actions are sinful and destructive. So, can't he and other Mormons continue with their beliefs? Or do they have to bend their beliefs to your's?
My belief is that they exhibit UNCHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR in all the meddling in many States of the Union's politics and human rights affairs,
Then they WHINE that they are persecuted with lies when folks call them on it
Maybe Jesus will tell you to clean your own house before looking out the window to see who is against you
Where in the Bible does it say that Christians can't be involved in politics? Where in the Bible does it say that Christians shouldn't be involved in trying to right that which they they is wrong?
Finn McGowan: Bethany Blankley is Not Jesus Christ
I don't think Bethany Blankley, or any mortal, is in a position to declare that 14 million self-described Bible-loving Christians are in fact non-Christians. All she has authority to say is that her interpretation of the Bible doesn't match theirs.
http://solomonspalding.com/docs2/vernP1.htm#pg08
I do wish there were more accuracy on the other things, it does create a lot of bigotry against my wonderful people to have so much misinformation out there. But I don't expect perfection from media : ) love ya'll.
You introduce us to the BofM with 2Nephi5? Wonder why ; )
You read it in your terms. Lehites were probably all dark skinned by modern terms. Look up “White skins” and you'll find that anciently it was used by dark skinned people to describe religiosity. LDS scholars and historians (some holding Chairs at very prestigious universities) have discussed this at length. Joseph Smith translated it directly, sensed it needed clarification and began changing it but didn't finish.
Manasseh was Joseph's son, not Judah's.
There is a lot of inexplicable evidence that Native Americans did know about the Passion of Christ, and are related to Middle Eastern People.
The Book of Mormon does not say the Native American race began with Laman (it teaches that millions of people were here long before Lehi came, and there were clearly interactions).
You only assume The Book of Mormon says they landed in "South America." The Bible (KJV and etc) does not say Jesus didn't visit anyone outside of a certain geography. The Biblical Gospels tell of His ministry in their neighborhoods. Jesus told them that He had other sheep, not of that fold. He visited them, but Baptized none as far as I know.
You began with some assumptions and false claims....I'm sure some LDS may even believe some of those but....let them tell what they believe... : )
You seem to be new here. Just remember, your comments usually won't appear immediately. That doesn't meant that they've been rejected necessarily. Always best to give it some time before posting the same comment a second time.
Cheers,
Paul
Such as?
Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church. With divine inspiration, the First Presidency...and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...counsel together to establish doctrine that is consistently proclaimed in official Church publications. This doctrine resides in the four “standard works” of scripture (the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price), official declarations and proclamations, and the Articles of Faith. Isolated statements are often taken out of context, leaving their original meaning distorted.
See below for more on this....