- Fri Sep 21, 2012 6:09 am
#12069
“The Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet.” by Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) Past Leader of Mormon Religion. http://www.mrm.org/
In this message, Benson reminded his audience that the Mormon prophet “is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything,” including “civic matters.” Benson insisted that “those who would remove prophets from politics would take God out of government.” This sermon closed with a stern warning: “The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer.” Wanting to know how a Mormon candidate interprets such comments should not be considered unreasonable.
Would a Mormon in the White House give some legitimacy to Mormonism? Perhaps to a certain extent, though I am not aware of anyone who has changed their views on Mormonism merely because Mitt Romney became governor of Massachusetts or because Harry Reid became a senator in Nevada. Their ability to achieve such positions should not legitimize the claims of Mormonism anymore than Keith Ellison’s (D-MN) election to Congress gives credence to the truth claims of Islam. If nothing else, this is an excellent time for Christians to become better educated with the issues that have long separated Mormonism from Christianity. This includes Christian pastors, many of whom have failed to recognize that the LDS people are a neglected mission field.
Candidate Mitt Romney has always maintained that he would be true to his faith, a faith that is fraught with controversy. Mormonism was founded on the premise that it alone represents true Christianity and that all other professing Christians are part of a “great apostasy.” The Book of Mormon claims that there are only two churches, the church of the Lamb of God and the church of the devil. You can be sure that Mormons certainly do not hold that their church is the latter. Mormon founder Joseph Smith, a man who claimed he saw God, taught that God was once a man, and that faithful Mormons can become Gods in the next life.
A popular couplet in Mormonism states, “As man is, God once was, as God is, man may become.” Mormon leaders have insisted that true salvation ("exaltation," or eternal life), can only be found within Mormonism. Some leaders, such as James Talmage and Spencer W. Kimball, have described the Christian view of salvation by grace through faith as a “pernicious” doctrine “originated by Satan.” Anyone who thinks the Mormon Church is moving towards theological orthodoxy is misinformed.
In this message, Benson reminded his audience that the Mormon prophet “is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything,” including “civic matters.” Benson insisted that “those who would remove prophets from politics would take God out of government.” This sermon closed with a stern warning: “The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer.” Wanting to know how a Mormon candidate interprets such comments should not be considered unreasonable.
Would a Mormon in the White House give some legitimacy to Mormonism? Perhaps to a certain extent, though I am not aware of anyone who has changed their views on Mormonism merely because Mitt Romney became governor of Massachusetts or because Harry Reid became a senator in Nevada. Their ability to achieve such positions should not legitimize the claims of Mormonism anymore than Keith Ellison’s (D-MN) election to Congress gives credence to the truth claims of Islam. If nothing else, this is an excellent time for Christians to become better educated with the issues that have long separated Mormonism from Christianity. This includes Christian pastors, many of whom have failed to recognize that the LDS people are a neglected mission field.
Candidate Mitt Romney has always maintained that he would be true to his faith, a faith that is fraught with controversy. Mormonism was founded on the premise that it alone represents true Christianity and that all other professing Christians are part of a “great apostasy.” The Book of Mormon claims that there are only two churches, the church of the Lamb of God and the church of the devil. You can be sure that Mormons certainly do not hold that their church is the latter. Mormon founder Joseph Smith, a man who claimed he saw God, taught that God was once a man, and that faithful Mormons can become Gods in the next life.
A popular couplet in Mormonism states, “As man is, God once was, as God is, man may become.” Mormon leaders have insisted that true salvation ("exaltation," or eternal life), can only be found within Mormonism. Some leaders, such as James Talmage and Spencer W. Kimball, have described the Christian view of salvation by grace through faith as a “pernicious” doctrine “originated by Satan.” Anyone who thinks the Mormon Church is moving towards theological orthodoxy is misinformed.
- By divermouse