Two Top Mormon Leaders Arrested-- None Of Their 22 Spouses Had Anything To Do With Gay Marriages Of Course
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Mormon blasphemy holds Jesus was a polygamist
The Mormon cult has been in the news a lot lately, mostly as the instigator and financier of the vicious and bigoted attack on gay families in California. Seeking to bond with religious right extremists who have traditionally opposed polygamy, the Mormon's, like a punk hoodlum seeking to move up and become a Mafia "made" man, offered to lead the effort against gays in the battle over Proposition 8. The commotion was also a convenient smokescreen for questions about why more and more Mormons are falling back into the cult's old (and illegal) polygamous ways.
Polygamy has been an integral, if hidden, part of the Mormon cult since Joseph Smith (who had many secret wives) made the whole idiotic pseudo "religion" up in the 1830s. But it wasn't until crime figure Brigham Young (who had 51 wives, although he only impregnated 16 of them) made it official cult doctrine in 1852 that it was all out in the open. In order to cover up the fact that they were all a bunch of adulterous perverts, the cult founders made polygamy Mormon doctrine and it is still used by authoritarian Mormon males as a way of justifying immoral conduct with as many young girls-- often under age-- as they can get their paws on. Most Mormons are very secretive about their polygamous lifestyles although some of their sects practice it out in the open. The Republican Party has a pact with the Mormon leaders that if they keep it all quiet they'll be left alone.
After Abe Lincoln made polygamy officially illegal in 1862, Utah found itself unable to join the US as a state. Eventually Brigham Young, a psychotic and delusional mass murderer, vicious racist, and serial pervert, was tried for lewd and lascivious cohabitation. Eventually the Mormon cult "banned" polygamy, although it winks and nods while thousands of members continue leading polygamous lives.
Yesterday two demented top Mormon leaders in Canada, Jim Oler, 44, and Winston Blackmore, 52, were arrested and charged with polygamy. Their sect of the cult is connected to Mormon cults in Hildale, Utah, Eldorado, Texas, and Colorado City, Arizona. Both men call themselves "bishops" and Blackmore may also be guilty of statutory rape-- like his former pal, Mormon crazy Warren Jeffs (currently in prison)-- since some of his "wives" were under 18 when he "married" them.
Two top leaders of a polygamous community in western Canada have been arrested and charged with practicing polygamy, British Columbia's attorney general said Wednesday.
Attorney General Wally Oppal said Winston Blackmore is charged with marrying 20 women, while James Oler is accused of marrying two women. Oppal, who said the charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison, said the case will be the first test of Canada's polygamy laws.
"This has been a very complex issue," he said. "It's been with us for well over 20 years. The problem has always been the defense of religion has always been raised."
...[A Mormon spokesman said] "We believe that our religion is being discriminated against and that there are many government officials working with each other to carry out a vendetta of hatred and are determined to end our way of life."
If so-called "responsible" and law abiding Mormons, like GOP leader Mitt Romney, who still plans to capture the White House, want to show that their cult isn't a danger to society, perhaps they could divert some of the millions of dollars they are spending illegally to attack peaceful gay families and use it to clean up their own worldwide mess. Perhaps a serious educational crusade to bring Mormons into the 21st Century would be a better use of Mormon millions than using it to stoke the flames of bigotry and oppression.
Labels: Mormons, polygamy, Prop 8, Religionist bigotry
posted by DownWithTyranny @ 1:00 PM
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38 Comments:
I belong to a synagogue; but I consider myself an agnostic. These days I tend to think about organized religion as a Ponzi scheme.
But Mormonism??? It's truly dreck
You (Howie) obviously don't know any Mormon people otherwise you would not be using such hateful language towards them. Like America itself, the Mormons have come a long way. They now accept Blacks into their ranks. They outright denounce polygamy. And they are not all Republican.
You are just viewing this whole Prop 8 issue from a left wing pro-gay perspective. In fact the Mormons were not the only group that overwhelmingly voted Yes for Prop 8 in California, it was ALSO THE BLACKS!
Where was your friend Obama on this issue? I don't think he actually cares.
There are always a number of splinter groups that develop out of all religions. The polygamists that are active today are from the Mormons, but the big temple on the hill in Salt Lake strongly denounces it. I checked it out for myself as my wife and I actually went to Salt Lake and had a one-on-one with one of the "sales people" there and were able to ask any questions we wanted to. I have personally worked with and have known many Mormons, and they are not hate filled gay bashers.
Why don't you do a little traveling within the United States (like Utah) before you go spewing hate about a perfectly legitimate religious organization. They have it more together than the Jews and Catholics combined.
How many Palestinian children did the Jews kill today?
Plus, the Mormons you are talking aout are the spinter groups, not the mmainstream Mormons that devote their time and money to helping each other.
You must learn to love, not hate my son.
almost certainly, DownWithTyranny! is a good guy with his heart in the right place, but the first couple of lines I read ("Mormon cult...punk hoodlum" etc...) left me feeling like the creative license he takes undermines what could have been larger points to his message -- like there was almost a journalistic irresponsibility (albeit in the name of good intentions) that left me with a feeling of, like, "Damn, that's why the conservatives dismiss the left so easily." Although, in fairness, I'd have to say that's a handy/lazy point of view for me to come up with so conveniently, since I think the fundamentalist right and altruistic left piss me off about equally on any given day.
The LDS Church that helped promote the Prop 8 push has not practiced polygamy in over 100 years.
The groups you are thinking of are no more a part of the LDS Church than the Southern Baptists are a part of the Catholic Church.
Impressive grasp of historical fact you've got there. I suppose you think it's the Roman Catholic Church bombing the Palestinians right now too.
What a goofball.
Sure, Seth, just like Joseph Smith wasn't bonking every little girl he could get his grimy mitts on! I don't know if you know any Mormons, but they're a sneaky lot trying to come of like regular people while behind closed doors...
Wow! Howie, you're not having a good night doing the Blog thing. Come over to The Abbey and have a drink on me.
Yup, Joseph Smith was a polygamist. About 30 wives last I checked. His youngest bride was Fannie Alger - age 15.
A bit young, but young brides were pretty common in the mid to late 1800s. You'll note that the people who killed Joseph didn't give a damn how old his brides were - only that he had more than one of them.
Suppose they were jealous or something.
Of course, we all know that a typical liberal has no objection whatsoever to banging multiple women.
It's only when you MARRY them that its disgusting!
Of course! Why didn't I see it before?
Seth wins debate. Give up Howie!
The following information is taken from books considered rare or difficult to find. Dr. William Wyl's Mormon Portraits (1886) in particular, infuriated the Mormon Church. Dr. Wyl was a well-known and highly respected German physician, who visited Salt Lake City with no intent to attack the Mormons and came away appalled at all he had seen and heard. He wrote, "I do not wish to insult anybody in this book, or to hurt anybody's feelings. I desire to do my simple duty as a writer. That is all; to do it as a critic and observer, having the courage of my opinions, and being happily free from ‘all entangling alliances.'"
====================
Thurlow Weed
In 1825, when I was publishing the "Rochester Telegraph," a man introduced himself to me as Joseph Smith, of Palmyra, New York, whose object, he said, was to get a book published. He then stated he had been guided by a vision to a spot he described, where, in a cavern, he found what he called a golden bible. It consisted of a tablet which he placed in his hat, and from which he proceeded to read the first chapter of the Book of Mormon.
I listened until I became weary of what seemed to me an incomprehensible jargon. I then told him I was only publishing a newspaper, and that he would have to go to a book publisher, suggesting a friend who was in that business. A few days afterward Smith called again, bringing a substantial farmer with him named Harris. Smith renewed his request that I should print his book, adding that it was a divine revelation, and would be accepted, and that he would be accepted by the world as a prophet. Supposing that I had doubts as to his being able to pay for the publishing, Mr. Harris, who was a convert, offered to be his security for payment.
Meantime, I had discovered that Smith was a shrewd, scheming fellow who passed his time at taverns and stores in Palmyra, without business, and without visible means of support. He was about five feet eight inches in height, had regular features, and would impress one favorably in conversation. His book was afterward published in Palmyra.[2]
=================
Dr. John C. Bennett:
"Shortly after I located in Nauvoo, Joe proposed to me to go to New York and get some plates engraved and bring them to him, so that he could exhibit them as the genuine plates of the Book of Mormon, which he pretended had been taken from him, and "hid up" by an angel, and which he would profess to have recovered. He calculated to make considerable money by this trick, as there would of course be a great anxiety to see the plates, which he intended to exhibit at twenty-five cents a sight. I mentioned this proposition to Mrs. Sarah M. Pratt, on the day the Prophet made it, and requested her to keep it in memory, as it might be of much importance." When asked by me in the spring of 1885 about this statement of John C. Bennett, Mrs. Pratt confirmed it fully and stated also that Bennett had reported to her this conversation with Joseph on the very day when it happened.[3]
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that they believe your Church is wrong, your Christian creeds are abomination to God, and you pastor or Priest is a hireling of Satan.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that there is salvation only in their church - all others are wrong.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that those who have been through their temples are wearing secret underwear to protect themselves from "evil". This "evil" includes non - Mormons like you.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU about their secret temple rites at all. If they did, you would spot them as non Christians immediately.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that they think "familiar spirits" are good, and that their Book of Mormon has a "familiar spirit". Leviticus 19:31 says familiar spirits defile one, and are to be avoided at all costs.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that women receive salvation only through their Mormon husbands, and must remain pregnant for all eternity.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that they intend to be gods themselves some day, and are helping to earn their exaltation to godhood by talking to you.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that they intend to have many wives in heaven, carrying on multiple sex relations throughout eternity, until they have enough children to populate their own earth, so they can be "Heavenly Father" over their own planet!
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that you were once a spirit - child of their heavenly father, and one of his numerous wives before you were born on earth.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that the Virgin Mary really wasn't a virgin at all but had sex relations with their heavenly father to produce the Mormon version of Jesus Christ
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that they believe Jesus had at least three wives and children while he was on this earth.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that the "heavenly father" they ask you to pray to with them, is really an exalted man that lives on a planet near the star base Kolob, and is not the Heavenly Father of the Bible at all.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that Jesus was really Lucifer's brother in the spirit world, and it was only due to a "heavenly council" vote that Jesus became our redeemer instead of Satan!!
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that there are over one hundred divisions in Mormonism. They conveniently "forget" this while criticizing the many denominations within the body of Christ
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that all their so- called scriptures such as the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants, and even their official "Mormon Doctrine" statements contradict each other on MAJOR doctrinal points. The King James Bible is likewise contradicted.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that the reason the Book of Mormon has no maps is because there is not one scrap of archaeological evidence to support it!
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that the state of Utah, which is predominately Mormon, has a higher than the national average of wife-beating, child abuse, and teenage suicide.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that their prophet Joseph Smith was heavily involved in the occult when he founded Mormonism.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that that they encourage visitations from dead relatives from the "spirit world", a practice forbidden in the Bible. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12.)
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that there are many accounts of Joseph Smith's first vision besides the one they present to you, and all are different
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that their secret temple oaths are based on the Scottish Rite Masons.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that before 1978 they considered the Negro race inferior, and even one drop of Negro blood prevented a person from entering their priesthood.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that they expect Christ to return to their temple in Missouri, but they haven't built the temple He's supposed to return to, because they don't own the property. (It is owned by the "Temple Lot Mormons" who have plans of their own, and won't let the Salt Lake City group buy it).
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that they consider the Bible to be untrustworthy and full of errors.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that Jesus' death on the cross only partially saves the believer.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that that according to Anton Lavey's Satanic Bible, the demon god of the living dead is called "Mormo". Is it just a coincidence that the Mormons are so concerned with the dead?
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that on their Salt Lake City Temple they prominently display an upside-down star which is a Satanic symbol known as the Goat's head. Why?
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that they believe the Archangel Michael came down to earth with several of his celestial wives, and became Adam in the garden of Eden.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that that they believe the angel Gabriel came down to earth and became Noah in the days of the flood.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that their Prophet Joseph Smith prophesied falsely many times. For example, he foretold the second coming of Christ for 1891. The Bible teaches that one false prophecy puts the prophet under death sentence. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that their Prophet Joseph Smith did not die as a martyr as they claim, but was killed during a gun battle in which he himself killed two men and wounded a third.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU about the Mountain Meadows Massacre in which they brutally murdered an innocent wagon train of settlers, of over one hundred men, women, and most of the children, traveling through Utah.
MORMONS WON'T TELL YOU that Joseph Smith taught that there were inhabitants on the moon, and Brigham Young taught there were inhabitants on the sun as well!
WHY WON'T MORMONS TELL YOU THESE THINGS?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Mormons, are well aware that if these facts were known to the convert prior to baptism, they would have very few converts! The Missionaries are well trained to keep most of these facts from their potential converts.
Tragically, many Mormons may not even be fully aware of the doctrines and history of their own church. Every statement on this tract is true. Mormons are encouraged to check out their own publications for documentation of the above. After all, if the Mormon Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) has the truth, it can stand any amount of investigation.
Please do not be afraid to investigate. We are not Ex-Mormons, but Christians defending the Christian Church and its beliefs.
Excellent documentation etc. can be found in the Mormon Ministry web sites from our link page.
More points
Mormons will not tell you before you join the church and probably never will if you don't ask the right questions.
The founder of Mormonism was Joseph Smith. He was thought of as a Prophet by the Mormon people. To be a Mormon you have to accept him as being a true prophet of God.
Here is a statement by Joseph Smith and what he thought of himself:
"I have more to boast of than any man had. I am the only man that has been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from him, but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet." ( History of the Church", Vol. 6, pp. 408-409. 1884).
MORMONISM ISN'T CHRISTIAN
In recent years the Mormon Church and it's members, the Latter-day Saints (or LDS), has attempted to convince the public that this church is a legitimate Christian organization, I am no expert, but the literature abounds to support the claim I post here that Mormonism absolutely is NOT Christian. The reason it is important to continue to expose the reality of this organization is that the Mormon church has been highly successful in deceiving the public into believing that Mormonism is Christian.
Today, many people believe this organization to be just like any other main stream Christian religion. However, quite the opposite is true. When the true beliefs of Mormonism are listed, there is little doubt that this organization is far from being Christian. Following are the things Mormon missionaries WON'T tell you when they come to your door:
1) Listed in their first "Articles of Faith," the claim is: "We believe in God the eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost," this is not the whole truth. What they do not say is that their belief is these are THREE SEPARATE gods. Christians believe in ONE God, in three persons.
2) Mormonism teaches that if a Mormon couple "seals" themselves in a Mormon, pagan, ritualistic ceremony, they too can someday become gods. They will rule over their own planet, and the wife, the "goddess" will have spirit babies that will populate this planet for all eternity. Mormonism believes that there are billions and billions of gods ruling over billions of planets in the universe.
3) The LDS believe that God was once an imperfect man who attained godhood, was given his own planet to rule over -- earth, and now resides near the star KOLOB.
4) Mormonism teaches that the Bible is unreliable, missing parts, and is poorly translated. Yet Mormon scriptures, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price, are all God's perfect, pure word. Mormons believe that because the Bible is imperfect, there was the need for the Book of Mormon (BOM) that was supposedly given to the "prophet" Joseph Smith by an angel called "Moroni." Mormons believe Smith put a stone in his hat, and translated this book from gold plates, by reading sentences through this stone. No one has ever laid eyes on these plates.
There is absolutely not one shred of proof that any of the places in the Book of Mormon, or any of the tribes or battles told of, ever existed on earth, no less in America. There is zero archaeological proof to support anything in the BOM. The Bible warns us of false prophets and tells us how we can test them.
One test is to see if the prophet's revelations or prophecies come true. Deut. 13 and 18:20-22, Jeremiah 28:7-9, 16. Smith's revelations always failed. Also, the Bible forbids another gospel of Christ, yet the Mormons claim the Book of Mormon is an additional gospel of Jesus Christ -- Galations 1:6-9, 2 Cor. 11:2-5, 13-15. Smith is a false prophet, therefore his Book of Mormon, based on what the Bible says, must be false.
5) Mormons believe, contrary to what the Bible says, that Jesus is not only Lucifer's BROTHER, but that He was conceived by God who came in the flesh to Mary, and when they had physical relations, Mary conceived Jesus. The Bible says that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
There is absolutely no doubt that Mormonism is a false religion, and probably one of the largest cults ever. Following is more information concerning the true teachings of Mormonism and why it couldn't possibly be a Christian organization:
Taken from "Angels of Deceit --The Masterminds Behind Religious Deception," by Richard Lee and Ed Hindson.
Mormon Theology: Mormons believe that the Bible is God's revelation to the Jews and the East, while the Book of Mormon is His revelation to the Americans and the West.
Unfortunately, there is no scientific, historical, or archaeological evidence to support the claims of the BOM. Over 25,000 words and phrases from the King James Bible appear verbatim in scattered sections of the BOM, including several from the New Testament. References to advanced civilizations, two million Jaredites, steel implements, and a compass all represent gross historical blunders made by the naive Smith as he "dictated" the book to Oliver Cowdery.
Smith's prophecies were false, including one where he proclaimed that he would possess the house he built in Nauvoo "forever and ever" and that his seed would live there after him "from generation to generation." But the house was destroyed after his death and his descendants moved to Independence, Missouri. The Bible tells us that it takes only one false prophecy to know a prophet is not from God. The theology taught in Smith's books and "revelations" include the following concepts:
1) Plurality of gods: Smith said, "The doctrine of the plurality of gods is as prominent in the Bible as any other doctrine. It is all over the face of the Bible."
Mormons basically believe that God the Father had a father, and so on. They also believe that the gods were once men. In Smith's famous sermon at the funeral of Elder King Follett in 1844, he said, "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!" Lorenzo Snow, fifth president of the Mormon Church, put it this way: "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become."
2) Humanity of God: Smith taught that God has a "body of flesh and bones" as tangible as a man's body. He also believed humans could become male and female gods. "Here then is eternal life," he said, "to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves... from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain the resurrection of the dead... and sit in glory." Brigham Young taught that Adam was God.
3) Sexuality of God: Mormons identify Christ with Jehovah, the first born of Elohim's (God's) children. Thus, they distinguish two separate persons from the names of God. Jesus Christ, they believe, was the product of the physical union of God (Elohim) and the Virgin Mary. In turn, they believe Jesus was polygamously married to Mary, Martha & the other Mary at the wedding at Cana. Since Mormons teach that only those whose marriages are sealed for eternity can ever become gods, it was virtually "necessary" for them to believe Jesus was married. Unmarried people can only hope to become angels.
4) Salvation by works: Mormons reject the doctrine of justification by faith. Mormons teach that four elements are necessary for one's salvation: 1) faith, 2) repentance, 3) baptism, and 4) laying on of hands. Mormons believe that one must be baptized by immersion by the Mormon Church in order to be saved. All others will be lost.
5) Celestial marriage: Full exaltation -- the highest Mormon heaven -- requires that a married couple be sealed to each other for both time and eternity in a temple ceremony. Those who have been so sealed will live together forever with their children and will continue to have sex and procreate more children for all eternity. In their original teachings, Mormons also believed men could be married to several wives for all eternity.
6) Exclusivity of salvation: Joseph Smith believed that the "everlasting gospel" had been revealed to him alone in the Book of Mormon.
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
As quoted from a Mormon advertisement:
"The Book of Mormon another testament of Jesus Christ." This church is not Christian, nor is their Book of Mormon "another testament" of Christ because the Bible forbids this.
In the revealing film, "The God Makers II," there are some important revelations about the Mormon church that everyone, Christian, and non-Christian, should know. This church is a very, very powerful financial institution, and is influential worldwide because of it's mass resources and monetary worth.
It is estimated that the church is the second largest financial institution west of the Mississippi. It is an organization that must be closely examined, to determine if the claims they make are true.
Recently, the Mormon church claims to be Christian. Yet in it's history it has taught
that polygamy is the only way to Mormon heaven (see Doctrine and Covenants Section 132 verse 4),
that Jesus was begotten through a sexual relationship between God the Father and Mary;
that Jesus and Lucifer are brothers;
that Mormons will become "gods and goddesses" and enjoy the eternal pleasure of celestial sex;
and Mormon doctrine still justifies the evil practices of blood atonement.
There are an estimated 25-30 thousand polygamist Mormons today. Those who take Mormonism seriously must be polygamist because it is taught in Mormon scripture.
"For behold, I reveal unto you a new and EVERLASTING covenant and if ye abide not that covenant; then ye are damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory... verse 37 Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law...verse 38 David also received many wives and concubines... verse 61 And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood -- if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else. Verse 63 But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed; for they are given unto him to multiply and replenish the earth, according to my commandment, and to fulfill the promise which was given by my Father before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds..." Doctrine and Covenants Sec. 132.
There is an interview with William Schnoebelen from "The God Makers II," an author who had 12 years experience with witchcraft and Satanism as a high priest before joining the Mormon church. He was astounded at the level of similarity in the Mormon temple ceremony and Satanism. The handshakes, grips involved -- the secret tokens of the Arronic and Melchisedec priesthood are in fact right out of witchcraft and Satanism according to Schnoebelen.
In Utah, there are occultic symbols on every LDS building. Not one single Christian symbol can be found. In fact, the film shows above the Salt Lake City temple, an inverted pentagram which has been used for centuries in devil and Satan worship. This symbol was seen very clearly above the front door in the video.
As was stated, in the video, "The God Makers II," there was clearly shown an inverted pentagram above the front doors of the Salt Lake City Mormon Temple. William Schnoebelen, an ex-Satanist and ex-Mormon says in the video that for centuries in devil and Satan worship, this symbol has been used. The main function of this symbol in the inverted form is to "call down the kingdom of Satan into manifestation on earth." This same symbol, the inverted pentagram, sits above the doors of the Salt Lake City Mormon temple.
When a Mormon stands at the veil during a Mormon temple ceremony and says, "Power and the Priesthood be upon me and upon my posterity throughout all generations of time and eternity..." the Mormon puts the curse of Satan upon themself and their children and future generations of children.
Why Mormonism is a Pseudo-Christian Cult!
or, what the Mormon missionaries
WON'T tell you BEFORE they baptize you!!!
Founded by Joseph Smith in the early 1800's, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (more commonly known as the Mormons) is one of the fastest growing churches in North America today (note that "Mormon" = "LDS" = "Latter-day Saint").
Unfortunately, what most people "know" about the Mormon church and its teachings is generally through what they see on television (ie. in their "wholesome" pro-family advertising) or through the clean-cut missionaries that come to their door.
HOWEVER, it is impossible to understand the true teachings of the Mormon church just from these sources. What you see on television and what the missionaries present to you is the "sanitized version" of Mormonism.
The television ads as a rule tend to present Mormonism as just another "Christian denomination" that has the standard Christian beliefs. Although, they do refer to "families being together for eternity" in one particular ad - a veiled reference to the Mormon "Plan of Eternal Progression" (which basically says that God was once a man and that good Mormons can become God too and rule over their own planet).
As for the Mormon missionaries, they will spoon-fed you a carefully orchestrated series of six "discussions" that will not include any of their more precious "truths" -- they will say, if asked, that it is a matter of "milk before meat" or they may call it "lying for the Lord". Their objective, of course, is to make "converts" no matter what the cost. Call it what you like, it is still just plain lying!
Some of the more "precious" truths that they omit are:
the Adam/God doctrine (basically this says that Adam was God);
secret signs, handshakes, and passwords which are necessary to reach the highest level of heaven (where you too may become a "god" in your own right--otherwise known as "eternal progression");
sacred underwear (known as generally as "garments" but officially as "the Garment of the Holy Priesthood");
Jesus born of a "physical" relationship between Mary and God (ie. NO virginbirth);
Jesus was married and had kids (nowhere is this evident in the Bible);
blood atonement (basically this dates from early church teachings that say that if you commit "murder", then Christ's atonement on the cross is not sufficient to "cover" this... that you need to have your "own" blood shed before it is possible for you to be "forgiven" and go to heaven);
plural marriage (polygamy); etc.
Don't you think that these things should be disclosed BEFORE you join the Mormon church???? I do!
A Corrupt Gospel Presented
The Mormon church has taken the simple Gospel message of Jesus Christ and corrupted it with the works and teachings of man. (see also the Mormon Church is a "cult" because it is devoted to the works... of its founder, Joseph Smith)
One of the ways it has done this is by teaching "salvation by works". A direct quote from their Book of Mormon (written by Joseph Smith) says "...for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, AFTER all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23, pg. 100) (emphasis is mine). We can do nothing!. The Bible tells us that there is no one good, not one of us and that all our works are as filthy rags.
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness' are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6)
We can never EARN salvation -- it is a precious gift of grace and mercy from our Heavenly Father.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. 2:8-9)
God extends the hand of salvation towards us and we either accept or reject it. This gift is free to us because someone else -- Jesus, God's only Son -- paid that price for us. He suffered and shed His blood for us on the cross of Calvary. That is how much He loved us -- He died for us!
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8)
If you look at some of the early Christians, the Galatians in particular, Paul was incredibly frustrated with them. After he preached the simple Gospel of Christ to them, they ended up adding the "Law of Moses" to it and contaminated the Gospel message. Can you imagine how upset he was when he asked them:
"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Gal. 3:1-3)
I wonder what Paul would say to the leaders of the Mormon church today? They have done the same things as the Galatians did: they have added to the Gospel! Some of the things that they have added are: additional scriptures, allegiance to Joseph Smith, the endowment (temple ceremony) where you are taught secret signs and passwords which according to Mormonism are necessary to reach the highest level of heaven, the wearing of garments (sacred underwear), baptism for the dead, genealogy, etc. Would Paul say, "O foolish Mormons..."?
Is Mormonism a Pseudo-Christian Cult?
We have just seen how Mormonism has corrupted the Gospel of Jesus Christ by the teachings of man, now let us see if Mormonism is a cult.....
Let us separate the term "cult" from "pseudo-Christian" for just a moment, for it is very much possible to have a cult totally unrelated to Christianity... the two do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.
The definition of the word "pseudo" is "false, pretended, not real" (also "imitation"). The Mormon church is "pseudo-Christian" because it has the veneer or surface trappings of Christianity while at the same time, it denies some of the very basic tenets of Christianity: the virgin birth of Christ, the Trinity, the doctrine of grace (ie. salvation is through faith and not works... see Eph. 2:8-9 quoted further down this page), Christ's atonement on the cross, etc.
Through its name (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), its similar terminology, and its own assertion that it is Christian, the Mormon church has deceived many into believing and accepting them as fellow Christians.
If you look at the "Terminology of Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses", you will find the different definitions than Christians and Mormons place on the same word. One quick example from that document is "atonement":
LDS - The sacrifice of Christ that made resurrection possible along with the possibility of our earning forgiveness of sins. Bible - The substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf. He died for our sins (1 Pet. 2:24; 1 John 2:2).
As you can see the meanings differ but the word is the same. When you "talk" to a Mormon, you can carry out an entire conversation and end up thinking that your beliefs are similar, IF you are unaware of the terminology differences.
Also, "Mormon Terminology" explains other terms that Mormons use that you may not be familiar with: eternal progression, celestial kingdom, exaltation, general conference, pre-existence, etc.
Mormonism "looks" Christian but it is not!
On to the second point: the Mormon Church is a "cult" because it is devoted to the works, theories, teachings, and person of its founder, Joseph Smith.
The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine & Covenants, both written by Joseph Smith, are the primary "scriptures" of the Mormons. They do pay "lip service" to the Bible as they do include the King James version of the Bible as part of their Scriptures, HOWEVER, they don't consider it to be "correctly translated". So when the Bible disagrees with the Book of Mormon, etc., the Bible is cast aside.
Joseph Smith (the "founder" of Mormonism) boasted that he did more than Jesus. "...I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet..." (History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 408-409)
Brigham Young (the second "prophet" of the Mormon church) said you can't get to the highest heaven without Joseph Smith's consent. "...no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 289)
Again, as you can see, Mormonism is focused on a man (Joseph Smith) and his teachings and works.... not on Jesus Christ! It is a cult!!!
Is Mormonism a pseudo-Christian cult? YES!!!
Is Mormonism Christian? NO!!!
Having a discussion about whether LDS is Christian or not, or whether its beliefs are more wacko than Christianity or Orthodox Judaism is a waste of time. All of us have formed opinions on the matter (or we wouldn't be DWT readers) and we're not going to change based on a blog post.
About polygamy. Why should the government care whether a man has 1 wife or 12, or whether those wives are of the same or a different sex? There is no underlying rationale to lead the government to make distinctions about civil unions (aka marriage).
Obviously forcing or seducing minors into a marriage of any time should be illegal. The parties to a union should be adults who have not be coerced to join together.
The issues that government should be concerned about with groups like the FLDS are:
- denying children decent education,
- restricting the ability of teens and young adults to interact with the larger community and thus be able to form rational judgments about whether they want to remain in the cult.
- defrauding cult members of their money and property under pretense of religion.
All religious groups that "protect" their children from learning science and history and "protect" their young people from interacting with and understanding the larger world are guilty (IMHO) of a form of coercion, if not abuse. That is the problem with FLDS - that and pedophilia which is already a crime.
Thing people have to keep in mind is that there are a lot of different branches of "Mormonism," and their beliefs and practices are very different. You can get this all on Wikipedia, but I'll break it down for you:
1. Joseph Smith claims to have seen God and translated a new book of scripture. He starts the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (abbreviated as LDS today) in upstate New York. he gathers followers in Kirtland Ohio, and in Missouri. Followers of Joseph are nicknamed "Mormons" by their neighbors (after the title of their book of scripture - "The Book of Mormon").
2. Kirtland is a financial failure and people in Missouri - worried about the Mormons' anti-slavery position - burn Mormon homes, steal their property, and in many instances, kill them (check out "Haun's Mill" on Google or Wikipedia). Eventually, Missouri governor Boggs signs an extermination order - directing that all Mormons are to be either driven from Missouri or killed.
3. The Mormons leave - losing most of their property in the process - and make a new start in Nauvoo, Illinois. It was here that Joseph openly taught polygamy, the deification of human beings, and his most radical doctrines. Eventually, anti-Mormon sentiment in Illinois intensified and Joseph was falsely imprisoned in Carthage, where he was eventually shot to death by an angry mob.
4. Once Joseph died, the question was who would lead the Church. Joseph's first wife Emma and others thought Joseph's son should inherit the leadership. Another group dug up an obscure "revelation" from Joseph naming Jonathan Strange the next prophet. Another group felt that the most senior member of the "Twelve Apostles" (the top governing body of the LDS Church) - Brigham Young - should be the next prophet. There was a lot of argument over this.
5. Brigham Young won most of the support and most Mormons followed him west to Utah - where they settled down, built a temple and also practiced polygamy (but not on a terribly large scale - only a minority of people in the Utah territory ever practiced polygamy throughout the late 1800s).
6. Emma Smith and her son broke off from Young's faction and remained behind, eventually living in Missouri and founded the Reformed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or RLDS). This church still exists today. They accept Joseph Smith as founder and accept the Book of Mormon as scripture, but reject some of the later doctrines Joseph Smith taught in Nauvoo - such as polygamy. They feel that these doctrines are mostly propaganda from the "Brighamite" faction (as they call the church Brigham founded). The followers of Jonathan Strange are currently known as "Strangeites" and are located (I believe) in New York state. They also reject polygamy and other doctrines from the "Nauvoo period."
7. As I said earlier, the LDS Church, led by Brigham Young, set up shop in Utah. The US government eventually sent an army to invade Utah, imprisoned Mormon leaders, confiscated Mormon property, and eventually, in the first decade of the 1900s, the LDS Church announced that it was ceasing the practice of polygamy. Later, it announced that any Mormons found practicing polygamy would be excommunicated.
8. The rejection of polygamy caused another split among the Mormons. Many felt that the prophet at the time was an apostate who was rejecting a God-given commandment. They left the LDS Church and either started their own churches or simply continued to practice polygamy on their own.
9. The largest of these polygamous offshoot groups was the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or FLDS). They practiced polygamy on a large community scale. Others' simply practiced it independently and privately and still do (think the HBO show "Big Love").
10. Even the FLDS had their own split when a radical faction seized power and claimed that parental permission was no longer needed to marry a young girl. This happened in the 1950s and caused a lot of FLDS to reject the FLDS church and leave. From this point, the FLDS Church became increasingly radical in their practices until they became the same FLDS who got raided by Texas authorities last year. I've heard of a lot of abuses in that community, and imagine a lot of it is true.
11. Finally, the LDS Church - the one based in Utah, with the temple in Salt Lake, the Prop 8 push, and the dorky looking missionaries on bicycles has not practiced polygamy in over 100 years and promptly disciplines and excommunicates any Mormons they find practicing it.
But all these groups are called "Mormons." It's just, there's a lot of different KINDS of Mormons. Just like there are a lot of very different "Christians." No one tries to claim that a Southern Baptist is the same as a Roman Catholic, or a Greek Orthodox. But people seem to have no problem lumping together the FLDS, the RLDS and the LDS as if they were all one big church.
But they are very different.
These people in Canada are in no way "Top Mormon Leaders". They have nothing to do with my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and have likely never even been members of my church.
It is also extremely bad reporting to refer to these individuals as Mormons. The Associated Press Stylebook notes: “The term Mormon is not properly applied to the other ... churches that resulted from the split after [Joseph] Smith’s death.”
To summarize, Howie tried to denounce an entire religion using a few rogue people who were loosely connected to the legitimate Mormon religion in Salt Lake City. If someone had posted a blog that said Bernie Maddoff was representative of all Jews, it would have been denounced just as strongly. So Howie, I hope you have learned a lesson from this my friend.
And blacks were never banned from membership in the LDS Church.
Joseph Smith himself baptized and conferred Priesthood authority on a black man - Elijah Abel.
Later, after a speech to the Utah Territorial Legislature from Brigham Young, it became LDS practice to deny full Priesthood participation to blacks.
This policy was reversed in the 1970s and now blacks have full participation in the LDS Church. We've even had a few in the Quorum of the Seventy - the second highest governing body in the Church.
Which is more than you can say for some other Christian groups in the US. The Southern Baptist Convention didn't even bother apologizing for its treatment of blacks until the mid 1990s.
Why don't you fellas go back to talking about something you actually understand? Like your World of Warcraft accounts or something...
They now accept Blacks into their ranks.
Real white of them. What an achievement. As Chris Rock would say, "What do you want, a cookie?".
It's right up there with claiming someone "doesn't beat his kids much anymore".
The Mormon church is the church of the devil and their leaders are the anti-Christs. Anyone who follows them or their evil ways is following a cult of Satan! Their perversion and polygamy and polytheistic ways are of the devil!
Pastor Bob, I received this correspondence via a family values communicae sent out from the Christian Coalition. I am writing you now from Virginia, me and my whole congregation. I am appalled that a man of your caliber would consider the Mormon temples of Satan to be a "Church." Only those who love Christ could have a genuine church, these devils worship Satan, we ask for your correction.
Bob, Phil,
You obviously don't know my Church's teachings very well. You should visit mormon.org or lds.org and learn something before you go spouting off. You currently sound either, 1. ignorant or 2. full of hate.
Since the ban on blacks was revoked well before I was even born, I frankly don't really give a flying leap anonymous.
I see the Jesus-screamers have arrived.
Tell you what you two "pastors." Why don't the two of you have a showdown right here and now - Prove which one of you has the best anti-Mormon street cred.
The winner gets to cut in line at the pearly gates.
It will provide some laughs for all of us.
Holy Crap!!! Howie, I am ROTFALMAO
Mags
And DeShawn, they most certainly did deny participation to black people.
You'll note that in the South today, black people go to their own church, and white folk go to theirs. Segregated worship is still alive and well in Christianity. It used to be even worse. Black people were allowed to do what they wanted among their own kind, but not one of them would have been allowed within 20 feet of a typical Protestant Church during certain portions of our nation's history.
Not to mention the charming examples of Baptist ministers marching with the KKK and reading the Bible at lynching sessions.
We Mormons got nothing on Protestant history.
Glory, hallelujah and I sayeth to thee, behold, Jacob was a good man, that's right, Jacob was a good man. The lessons learned by his suffering taught us our faith. You foolish people have been bewitched by the lies of the Mormon cult. The only truth is in my bible. I don't have to worry about it, I don't have to think about it, I don't have to go to bed hoping it's right, because praise God, IT IS RIGHT!!! Pastor Bob, rally the troops, the Mormons worship the devil and they are trying to pass themselves off as Christians, beware brother! - Reverend Phil Kidd - Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Preacher
Pastor Phil, I may have said this before but I'm gonna say it again, not all of us are James Bakers and Jimmy Swaggards, you hear me? I'm not a whore hopper! My wife doesn't wear enough makeup to overhaul a 57 chevy with eye lashes the size of fingers and a V-neck down to her waist. Don't let the devil tell you that all preachers are low down and dirty, that's a lie outa hell, I tell you, God's still got some men, that are FILLED with the holy GHOST, that will preach with out fear or favor. Amen, to you! Paul W and Seth R, both of you need to repent and see the truth. The Mormon church is a cult and a lie, Hallelujah! Read the bible, reject the cult of Satan!!!!
- Pastor Bob - Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Minister
only the truth can set man free, and lies in any form only discredit our god
For an example, see JSMITH THE FRAUD (aka Logorrheaman) above.
What a boring blog...if whomever created this blog knew anything about Mormons I may think of visiting this site again. But I know lot's of mormons and I know their doctrine and they are nothing like this blog creator. Therefore, this blog is a waste of time...won't be back again. Too much hate on this site. Not enought knowledge. ciao.
Tami thurlow (ontario) is now likely and possibly the first official legal Polygamist in Canada.. no criminal Saskatchewan charges
check out canlli.org tami thurlow
Saskatchewan
totally legal Piolygamy.. more than one spouse at a time is legal is Sakatchewan
Canada...Saskatchewan
wow.. So..stay away from the USA
Hooray for Tami Thurlow.. Canada's first legal Polygamist!
( if she had more than one legal spouse at the same time)
PUT THE JUDGE IN jAIL.. WHAT'S HIS NAME JUSTICE KOCH?
The lack of tolerance shown in this blog and many of the resulting comments is appalling.
Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, ’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”Unfortunately, if any of you actually followed the teachings of Christ, you wouldn't be able to find such hatred towards ANY group.
And for the record, everyone should go look up the actual meaning of the word 'Christian' in a dictionary again. Just to refresh their memories.
Lack of tolerence?\Polygamy is legal in Saskatchewan Canada and has been practiced. It has been approved by the Justice Koch in Saskatchewan. How is that intolerent? Tami Thurlow ( an Ontario married woman)was allowed to have multiple spouses without Polygamy charges being laid....why is this intolerent?
For every 100 people who are critical of the Book of Mormon and its teachings, 99 of them have not read it. It is, as it says on the cover, Another Testiment of Jesus Christ.
With more than 20,000 christian denominations in the U.S. have you ever wondered why Mormons are the only religion who's church bears the name of the Savior? The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints.
The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel.
Instead of listening to a group of people who hate. Try finding out the truth for yourself. This site will answer all of your questions concerning Mormons. mormon.org
Actually exmormon.org tells the truths of ORIGINAL doctorines that the members either now sugar coat or just simply don't know about!!! I cannot believe how much I was NOT taught.
The leaders of the LDS Church have sat on Bank and Insurance Boards receiving hundreds of thousands of money for this, which would make them "money changers" in the eyes of God. Prior to 1990, all LDS temple goers would do satanic/Masonic temple blood oaths to keep all things secret or else "suffer your life to be taken" complete with the actions performed of slitting your throat, cutting out your heart and intestines. After 1990, the "penalites" for telling and for NOT being 100% blindly obedient to the church were taken out, but are still enforced even today as these Masonic penalties are still "assumed" but not performed. Also, in all LDS temples today all members consecrate "all their time, talents, and all that they do possess" to the church and NOT to GOD which is a blood oath and contrary to God's teachings anyway. Because of these temple consecrations, the money changers (unbeknownst to the sheep members) justify the theft of assets from wealthy members. This is what happened to the Bullfrog mine of Nye County, Nevada and to the Alan Cook multi-million dollar ranch which is now a part of the "Deseret Ranch"... It is important for all readers to know that all mormons still believe in polygamy and it is STILL practiced in all of the temples with men being able to be sealed to MANY wives through "Celestial Polygamy". This is were through divorce or death the man can eternally marry another wife. Everyone need to read Eliza Ann Young's free ebook (one of ten women to divorce Brigham Young) written in 1857; it shows how corrupt top Satanic (blood oath) MASON Brigham Young was who treated his wives (56 of them) horribly and preached and practiced BLOOD ATONEMNET e.g. justified murder of all apostates which were then blamed on the Indians. It's called "The 19th Wife" but make sure it was written in the 1800s as there is a fiction book by the same name trying to sugar coat the horror and cruelties of polygamy and masonry. My ancestor was Robert D. Lee, the scapegoat for Brigham Young's order to do the Mountain Meadow Massacre! I was told all my life how Brighamy Young ORDERED the heartless murder of men, women, and children who wanted to peacefully travel through southern Utah... www.mormonstruth.org Seek TRUTH and not "faith-promoting" lies!
When Brigham Young was informed about the situation at Mountain Meadows he sent a telegram warning local church leaders and members not to interfere with the wagon train but to give them safe passage. I am very sorry about what happened to your ancestor John D. Lee, but he made the mistake of following the counsel of Isaac Haight, the local church leader who directed the attack on the wagon train. Unfortunately, the telegram from Brigham Young failed to arrive on time and the tragedy occurred. Prior to the attack there had been reports that some of the members of the wagon train were involved in the brutal Missouri persecutions of the church and its members and were boasting about it. Also there were reports that some of those associated with the wagon train had poisoned a cow and that when Indians in the area ate the cow they were sickened and one died and so the Indians were eager for revenge and joined in on the attack. In addition, tensions ran high among the members of the church because this was literally war time inasmuch as the U.S. government had recently declared war on the church. This was a great tragedy but I don't believe Brigham Young nor the church bears responsibility for what happened. I think the responsibility rests on the shoulders of Isaac Haight. Before the attack a local council was held and the unanimous decision of the council was to leave the wagon train alone. Isaac Haight went against the decision of that council which he later regretted for the rest of his life.
For those of you who have used this site to attack the LDS church much of what you have cited is standard issue anti-mormon rhetoric from the past 180 years that has been proven to be false over and over again. Go to Fairlds or mormon.org or lds.org if you are interested in knowing the truth about the church. 2,000 years ago the Savior warned repeatedly about the consequences of bearing false witness and that warning is still in force.
In the Old Testament the great prophet Moses asked the question "Who's on the Lord's side." If someone supports homosexual marriage, how can they be on the Lord's side? I have nothing but respect for the LDS church and its stand for traditional marriage.
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