tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47488543145542404322024-03-20T06:06:19.534-05:00Es Pura MentiraSoy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-22394635959371633192009-03-07T22:36:00.000-06:002009-09-28T22:49:51.520-05:00Salvation For Satan?I have been discussing the idea of salvation by faith and not by works a lot lately. It seems that each time the topic comes up, a LDS person has to ask, “If all I have to do it believe, why then are the demons and Satan not saved when the Bible says that they believe in God?” I think this is such a strange question for them to ask. Let’s take a look at it and answer it from the LDS perspective.<br /><br />From the LDS point of view, you don’t really even have to get into the discussion of Faith vs. Works. The answer is very simple. They (demons and Satan) are actually not eligible for salvations no matter what they do. <br /><br />In the Pearl of Great Price you will find the Mormon account of our “pre-mortal” existence. It tells of a grand council in Heaven before the world was created. At this meeting, two plans were presented to God. The first was from Satan who had a plan that provided a way for everyone to be redeemed and not one soul would be lost. The cost of his plan would be our agency to choose for ourselves and he would take all of the glory for himself. The other plan was from Jesus who offered himself as a savior, leaving our agency intact and giving the glory to Heavenly Father. <br /><br />God chose Jesus’ plan and Satan rebelled, becoming the devil and a war started. Satan managed to lead 1/3 of the host of heaven away from God and they were all cast out of heaven, becoming demons. Once they were cast out, they lost what is called their “first estate”. In the October 2006 General Conference, Elder L. Tom Perry said the following about the first estate.<br /><br /><blockquote>“We first heard about the plan of salvation before we were born, in what the scriptures call our first estate (see Abraham 3:26). What occurred in this first estate is dimly understood, but we do know that we lived there as spirits, children of our Heavenly Father, and we made certain steps of advancement to prepare for the opportunity of housing our eternal spirits in earthly bodies.”</blockquote><br /><br />He goes on to say, <br /><br /><blockquote>“We lived as spirit children of our Father in Heaven before we were born on this earth. We were not, however, like our Heavenly Father, nor could we ever become like Him and enjoy all the blessings that He enjoys <strong>without the experience of living in mortality with a physical body</strong>.”</blockquote> <br /><br />As Elder Perry pointed out, those who have been or will be born on this earth kept their “first estate”. Once Satan and his followers were cast out of heaven, they lost their “first estate” and they were no longer able to be born into a physical body and learn to be like God. No amount of works or faith can change their eternal fate and they will never experience salvation. <br /><br />If this is the Mormon answer to the question and under their own doctrine, such salvation is not possible for Satan and his demons, why then even ask it? By asking it, they unwittingly poke a hole in their own argument of why “faith alone” is not true because their alternative is not a possible solution.<br /><br />Do Satan and his demons believe in God? They certainly do. They are part of the unseen spiritual realm which I think has access to both the spiritual world and ours which is something hard for us to comprehend because we only have visual access to our world (with very few exceptions). I imagine this takes them out of the faith category and puts them into the knowledge one. They KNOW who Jesus is and that is why they fight so hard against what God is doing for and through His people. Unfortunately for them, Jesus came to save the human race and they are not part of that. <br /><br />I have heard it said that Satan cannot be saved because he will never submit himself to God’s will which is part of being “born again”. Knowing what I do about his character and goal, I would say that this statement makes perfect sense to me.Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-24579721064779975412009-02-09T12:40:00.000-06:002009-09-28T22:49:51.512-05:00Grace and SalvationI have been looking into the topic of Grace and the roll it plays in salvation lately and have spent some time in my mind contrasting the Mormon view with that of the Christians. I’m going to try to put my thoughts on paper here the best I can about this subject. Let’s start by quoting a 2001 Mormon General Conference talk. Keep in mind the highlighted section when reading the story of the school boy and see if you can find the contradiction.<br /><br /><blockquote>"I am profoundly grateful for the principle of saving grace. <strong>Many people think they need only confess that Jesus is the Christ and then they are saved by grace alone. We cannot be saved by grace alone, “for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.</strong>” <br /><br />Some years ago, President Gordon B. Hinckley told “something of a parable” about “a one room school house in the mountains of Virginia where the boys were so rough no teacher had been able to handle them.<br /><br />“Then one day an inexperienced young teacher applied. He was told that every teacher had received an awful beating, but the teacher accepted the risk. The first day of school the teacher asked the boys to establish their own rules and the penalty for breaking the rules. The class came up with 10 rules, which were written on the blackboard. Then the teacher asked, ‘What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?’<br /><br />“ ‘Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on,’ came the response.<br /><br />“A day or so later, … the lunch of a big student, named Tom, was stolen. ‘The thief was located—a little hungry fellow, about ten years old.’<br /><br />“As Little Jim came up to take his licking, he pleaded to keep his coat on. ‘Take your coat off,’ the teacher said. ‘You helped make the rules!’<br /><br />“The boy took off the coat. He had no shirt and revealed a bony little crippled body. As the teacher hesitated with the rod, Big Tom jumped to his feet and volunteered to take the boy’s licking.<br /><br />“ ‘Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?’ the teacher asked.<br /><br />“After five strokes across Tom’s back, the rod broke. The class was sobbing. ‘Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. “Tom, I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!”<br />"James E. Faust, “The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope,” Ensign, Nov 2001, 18)</blockquote><br /><br />The first part of the quote establishes the LDS view on salvation and the roll grace plays in it. He chooses to quote 2 Nephi 25:23 that says, “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”<br /><br />Notice the end of the story. Tom, who is obviously a representation of Christ, volunteered to take the punishment for the small boy. The boy did nothing to deserve this intercession but Tom gave it willingly despite the wrong done by the boy. There was no works involved, no “after all we can do”. Instead, the only thing the small boy did was acknowledge (after the punishment has been handed out) he sinned and proclaim his love and gratitude for Tom and what he did for him forever. <br /><br />This story seems to line up more with the Christian view <br /><br />Romans 10:9-10<br /><blockquote>9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.</blockquote><br />Ephesians 2:8-9<br /><blockquote>8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.</blockquote><br /><br />Foust goes on the quote another Mormon leader by saying…<br /><br /><blockquote>With reference to our mortal acts and the Atonement, President J. Reuben Clark Jr. contributed this valuable insight when he said:<br /><br />“I feel that [the Savior] will give that punishment which is the very least that our transgression will justify. I believe that he will bring into his justice all of the infinite love and blessing and mercy and kindness and understanding which he has. … <br /><br />“And on the other hand, I believe that when it comes to making the rewards for our good conduct, he will give us the maximum that it is possible to give, having in mind the offense which we have committed.”</blockquote><br /><br />If the above statement is true, then there is no hope for salvation as a member of the Mormon church. It is a LDS belief that “no unclean thing can dwell with God”. If that is true, and the power of grace does not kick in until you have done “all that you can do”, then where is your hope? Can you ever really say that you have exhausted all of your resources and done absolutely everything in your power to live the “law” and be perfect (sinless)? If your answer to this is no, then it is my hope that you will see the freedom and peace Christ offers everyone in the Bible. Paul sums it up so well in the following versus. <br /><br />Romans 3:23<br /><blockquote>for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,</blockquote><br /><br />Romans 6:23<br /><blockquote>For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.</blockquote><br /><br />Romans 5:8<br /><blockquote>But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.</blockquote><br /><br />Romans 10:13 <br /><blockquote>for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."</blockquote><br /><br />Christ often speaks of the folly found in trying to keep the law as a way to gain salvation. It is not found in the law, but in a sincere belief in Him who died for us even though we can do nothing to deserve or re-pay such a gift. <br /><br />In the 29 years I spent in the Mormon church, there was never peace in my life. No amount of work or effort was ever enough. Instead of encouragement, reprimand and threats of Satan’s power to control were often given as motivation to do more. <br /><br />Does Christ want us to be good, moral, and righteous people? Of course He does. The question that begs to be asked then is; are we striving to do and be those things by trying to live by the law and be sin free? Or, are we alive in Christ and because we recognize the grace given to us once we believe on His name, there is nothing we can do to earn or deserve what has been already given to us? <br /><br />The idea that we can in some way, earn part of our own salvation diminishes the sacrifice made on the cross and limits the power God has to save us. <br /><br />I see the following verses as Christ's direct words to people who put too much emphasis on the law like Mormons and many other legalistic religions.<br /><br />Matthew 11:28-30<br /><blockquote>28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."</blockquote>Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-1767984705880489672009-01-20T01:13:00.000-06:002009-09-28T22:49:51.504-05:00Tithing and Paid ClergyWhile serving a LDS mission in Barcelona, Spain; I had the chance to speak with thousands of people concerning the LDS church. I am regularly reminded of things we would focus on and teach. I don’t remember this actually being in the discussions taught to potential converts but one of the things we would make sure to mention is that the LDS church does not have a paid clergy and that it is run by an all voluntary group of men and women. I normally would not have a problem with this but there are a few things that have stuck out in my mind that now make me wonder why it is set up this way. <br /><br />I have been attending a non-denominational church with my wife and I am amazed at the depth and quality of teaching they do there. They explain and teach with such clarity. Each sermon or lesson is firmly rooted in multiple scriptures which are often explained using the original Hebrew or Greek text to help ensure that the correct connotation of key words are understood. Listening and taking in this information has been amazing. Here is where I am going with this. In the LDS church, every Sunday is like “open mic” night, where amateur speakers are given 5-20 minutes to teach. Some take this very seriously and spend a good amount of time preparing but a large percentage of those asked to speak probably spend only a few hours on their talk at best. The problem with this is that there is no real depth and quality of teaching which leads to members who are not fed spiritually. There also is no quality control so the person selected that Sunday could slip in many opinions or bad interpretations of scripture and doctrine. I think this is part of the reason it is practically impossible to pin down Mormon doctrine. 100+ years of “un-official” teaching will do that. If you look back on the past 5-10 years of General Conference where the prophet and apostles speak, you will see the same basic teachings time and time again. No depth, no substance, just the same lifeless words taught just 6 months before. Why is that? Should the “true church” be able to give their members more? I certainly think so and I would expect them to. <br /><br />The other thing is part of the temple endowment ceremony (before 1990 when it was removed). I think I have talked about this before but it applies here so I will just mention it again. In the endowment, Satan paid a “sectarian minister” to lead away those looking for God by using false teachings and doctrine. Why put that image and idea into every stalwart LDS member who went to the temple? What was the purpose of that? (You can read the actuall transcript by going to my "temple" section and reading about the changes made over the years.) <br /><br /><br />With those things in mind, let’s take a look at the following verses from the Bible paying special attention to verse 4.<br /><br /><br />2 Cronicles 31:2-12<br /><br /><blockquote>2 Hezekiah assigned the priests and Levites to divisions—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, [a] to minister, to give thanks and to sing praises at the gates of the LORD's dwelling. 3 The king contributed from his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, New Moons and appointed feasts as written in the Law of the LORD. <br /><br />4 <em><strong>He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.</strong></em> <br /><br />5 As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. 6 The men of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the LORD their God, and they piled them in heaps. 7 They began doing this in the third month and finished in the seventh month. 8 When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the LORD and blessed his people Israel. <br /> 9 Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps; 10 and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok, answered, "Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the LORD has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over." <br /> 11 Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the LORD, and this was done. 12 Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts.</blockquote><br /><br />So, those who lived in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas brought their tithes, which included many different things to the priests and Levites so they could divide it amongst themselves so they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. <br /><br />I find this interesting because they were told to take the tithes given by the people and use it so that they would not have to worry about those basic needs and be able to devote the greater majority of their time studying, teaching and administering the Law of the Lord. This is exactly what churches with paid clergy do with the tithes and offerings they bring in and the amount of preparation and care given to those they pastor can be easily seen. <br /><br />Why then do Mormons not do the same thing? Interestingly enough, they used to. <br /><br /><br />D&C 42:71-73<br /> <blockquote>71 And the elders or high priests who are appointed to assist the bishop as counselors in all things, are to have their families asupported out of the property which is bconsecrated to the bishop, for the good of the poor, and for other purposes, as before mentioned; <br /> 72 Or they are to receive a just remuneration for all their services, either a stewardship or otherwise, as may be thought best or decided by the counselors and bishop. <br /> 73 And the bishop, also, shall receive his support, or a just remuneration for all his services in the church. </blockquote> <br /> <br />I have not been able to find when and why this changed but it appears that for many years the LDS church did the same thing that they later taught was an abomination in their temple. I will keep looking to see if I can find anything authoritative on why this change happened and post it if I find it.<br /><br />I don’t think that this is a huge issue personally except for the fact that the members of the LDS church are not getting fed in the way they could or should be and that is a shame. I merely bring it up as another example of where the LDS church strays from the Bible and short changes its faithful tithe payers in the process. Those who have grown up LDS unfortunately have no idea what kind of understanding and knowledge they are missing.Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-52033685739048792732009-01-14T12:29:00.000-06:002009-09-28T22:49:51.528-05:00Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.It seems like I keep reading about fruits and vines lately so I thought I would post something that came to my mind this morning. I think everyone knows the phrase, “by their fruits you will know them”. It is a very common phrase in the LDS church and other religious circles. It is something that is used in both a positive and a negative context and can often be self serving as I'm sure some will say that about what I am going to say. <br /><br />While reading the following passage I had a moment of clarity which is happening more often.<br /><br /><br /><br />Matthew 7:15-20<br /><br /><blockquote>15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? <br /><br />17Likewise <strong>EVERY</strong> good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree <strong>CANNOT</strong> bear bad fruit, and a bad tree <strong>CANNOT</strong> bear good fruit. <br /><br />19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.</blockquote><br /><br />I’d like to focus some attention on verses 17 and 18. I added some emphasis to highlight some key words. If we are to believe these verses, then I think all would agree on the basic premise that good tree = good fruit and bad tree = bad fruit. <br /><br />The question I had was; where does the tree get its nourishment? The food it eats is in the soil where it is planted and the roots are what not only anchors the tree but feeds it. Following basic logic, if the food in the soil is not good or sufficient then the tree will be weak and lacking in the ability to produce fruit at all since all of its energy must be spent in just staying alive. If the roots stay at the surface and do not go deep into the soil then it will be vulnerable when droughts, storms and other problems come, which is inevitable. <br /><br />Understanding this we can also conclude that… <br /><br />Good food+deep roots = strong tree & good fruit<br />Bad food+shallow roots = weak tree & bad fruit or no fruit at all<br /><br />Why am I taking my time to explain this? Because I think it has a direct relationship to Mormonism. I don’t think it is a coincidence that Jesus, in the same breath, warns us about false prophets and then tells us how to discern who they are. I have spent almost a year now talking about the Mormon tree’s roots, what it eats, and the fruit it ultimately bears. I have had people ask me in the past, and I think I even blogged about it once, what were some good things in the LDS church? I used to try to find a few “good fruits” but have come to understand that it is incapable of bringing forth good fruits because the food it eats (doctrine, teachings and rituals) contain poison that cripples it. It is further damaged by its roots (history) that are rotten and now only remain on the surface to try to survive.<br /><br />Again talking about fruit, Matthew 12:33-37 says:<br /> <br /><blockquote>33"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.<br /> <br />34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. <br /><br />35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. <br /><br />36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."</blockquote> <br /><br />I know that Mormons look to their leaders, past as present, with adoration and honor but this can only be because they do not know what their past really looked like and who these men were and are still today. It is my hope that some will be filled with enough curiosity to look for themselves at what their church is really founded on and what kind of soil they are taking their “nourishment” from. <br /><br />“Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks”. I can only imagine how black and diseased the hearts of the LDS prophets are to have started and now continue a church founded on false doctrine and deceit. One day, those who aided in the proliferation of the Mormon church will have to give an account of the things they said and did. This blog is my attempt to undo the part I played in "spreading the gospel" so I will not be condemned by my words while I was LDS. <br /><br />I cannot say enough how glad I am to be free from that toxic religion. While my tree is not yet fully healed from years of malnourishment, it is starting to become stronger and the roots are searching deeper into rich soil to find living water.Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-32289228808155835872008-12-24T11:44:00.000-06:002009-09-28T22:49:51.495-05:00Happy Birthday to Jesus!I think it is common knowledge that Jesus was not actually born on December 25th. I took a few minutes yesterday to see what some of the opinions are as to when he was actually born. It was no surprise that every opinion I read was different and they all made it very clear that there is no way to pinpoint the actual date. Some said it could have been in September while others came to the conclusion that November was a more realistic time. Others believe it was in the Spring during the time of new birth and life. <br /><br />That brings me to the Mormon belief about the birth of Jesus. Under the claim of modern revelation, they know the exact day/month/year of the nativity.<br /><br />In a message from the First Presidency, the head of the LDS church, the following was said…<br /><br /><blockquote>April is truly a historic month in which we commemorate two of the most important events in the history of mankind: the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the reestablishment of his church and kingdom here upon the earth in these, the latter days. Members of the Church also believe that Christ was born on April 6 in the year 1 b.c. (See D&C 20:1.) <br />N. Eldon Tanner, “Resurrection and Restoration,” Ensign, Apr 1971, 2</blockquote><br /><br />The verse they reference is part of a revelation telling Joseph Smith when to organize and start the church. It reads as follows…<br /><br /><blockquote>THE rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being <strong>one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh</strong>, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, <strong>in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April</strong>—</blockquote><br /><br />There have been some Mormon apostles that have said that we can’t know for sure but I could not find any instance where that was said in an official publication put out by the church like the <em>Ensign</em>. In fact, in the book <em>Jesus the Christ</em> by Elder James E. Talmage, the April 6th date is again confirmed. I mention this book because it was, and probably still is, one of the only books LDS missionaries are allowed to read while on their mission. To me that says something and is an obvious endorsement by the LDS church. <br /><br />I don’t consider this to be a big issue with Mormonism but it is just another interesting piece of information. <br /><br />Merry Christmas to you all! I hope your holiday is filled with <strong>JOY</strong>, <strong>PEACE</strong>, and <strong>HAPPINESS</strong>!Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-4443997508539219982008-12-23T13:20:00.000-06:002009-09-28T22:49:51.488-05:00Endowment = Gift...Really?I was on LDS.org the other day looking for information on the temples when I ran into this quote.<br /><br /><blockquote>“One ordinance received in the temple is called the endowment. The word endowment means "gift," and the temple endowment truly is a gift from God.”</blockquote><br /><br />Now, I have heard this a million times before but I have come to know that Mormons like to make up their own meaning to words so I decided to actually check to see what the real definition of endowment was and here is what I found.<br /><br />Webster defines it as…<br /><br /><blockquote><strong>Endowment:</strong><br />1: the act or process of endowing<br />2: something that is endowed ; specifically : the part of an institution's income derived from donations<br />3: natural capacity, power, or ability (a person of great intellectual endowment)<br /><br /><strong>Endow or Endowing:</strong><br /><br />1: to furnish with an income ; especially : to make a grant of money providing for the continuing support or maintenance of (endow a hospital)<br />2: to furnish with a dower<br />3: to provide with something freely or naturally <endowed with a good sense of humor></blockquote><br /><br />The thesaurus gave me this information…<br /><blockquote>a special and usually inborn ability (it's a sin to waste one's God-given endowments)— see TALENT</blockquote><br /><br />Dictonary.com gave me the following…<br /><br /><strong>Endowment</strong><br /><br /><blockquote>Assets, funds, or property donated to an institution, individual, or group as a source of income. </blockquote><br /><br />I looked at 3 other sources and they all said the same things. The only time an endowment was referred to anything even close to a gift it had to do with either in-born talents or monetary gifts given to an organization such as a charity, hospital or church. <br /><br />So, Mormons refer to the endowment as a “gift” but who is giving to whom? In order to be found worthy to enter the temple, you must be a full tithe payer meaning that you have to give 10% of your gross income to the church. That sounds like an endowment to me but the church is on the receiving end and not the members. <br /><br />Now, the LDS church is not the only church to promote paying tithes but it is one of the only ones I know of that has it as a requirement for salvation. Salvation can not be achieved in the Mormon church unless you have been to the temple to receive your endowment and be married/sealed. <br /><br /><em><strong>No tithing = No temple = No salvation</strong></em> <br /><br />I wonder if there are definitions to other words they just make up to suit their own needs and give members warm, fuzzy, feelings.Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-17078321308274593212008-12-22T15:01:00.000-06:002009-09-28T22:49:51.479-05:00Mormon Temple Prayer ListLast week I found out the members of my family were putting my family’s names on the LDS temple prayer list. Due to some interesting circumstances, I felt compelled to send them all an email requesting that they refrain from doing that again. Below is the letter I sent them today...<br /><br />Dear Family, <br /><br />It has come to my attention that some people have been putting our family’s names on the LDS temple prayer list. While I’m sure it was done with good intentions, I must request that the religious wishes of our family be respected. In no way do we agree with the teachings and doctrines found in Mormonism including the need for prophets today or temples. When Christ died on the cross, the Bible says that the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom and the temple was destroyed. Then in Acts 17 we read that “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, <strong>dwelleth not in temples made with hands</strong>”. <br /><br />In the temple endowment, when Adam prays at the alter he made after being removed from the Garden of Eden, His prayer is answered but not by God. He prays, “Oh God hear the words of my mouth.” but Satan is the one who answers him stating that he is the God of this world. Later in the session, that same prayer is repeated at an alter in the endowment room and then those names who are put on the prayer list are placed on the alter and prayed for. It is my opinion that, just as it is in the movie, that prayer is answered by the wrong person. God does not dwell there and there is very little justification for modern temple worship unless it comes from the self serving mouths of LDS prophets. Hebrews 1:1-2 teaches us that God, in the last days, speaks to us by his Son and that Christ was the last prophet. <br /><br /><blockquote>(KJV)<br />1God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, <br />2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;</blockquote><br /> <br /><br /><blockquote>(NIV) <br />1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, <br />2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.</blockquote> <br /><br />The prophets of the Old Testament spoke of Him and He is the last word. After his death he sent his disciples out to preach His gospel and none other. (Galatians 1:9) The apostles preached endlessly about watching out for false prophets and I am beginning to see why. <br /><br />It is for these reasons and many more that we do not support or sustain the doctrines of Mormonism. It is our wish that our names be kept off of the temple prayer lists and we trust that this request will be honored. <br /><br /><strong>Peace be unto you this Christmas!</strong>Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-1556503926201537102008-12-09T00:59:00.000-06:002009-09-28T22:49:51.469-05:00"Cross" Checking Mormon Policy With the BibleBelow is a direct quote from <a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=ea7d0bbce1d98010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____">lds.org</a> discussing their view of the use of the cross as a religious symbol. <br /><br /><blockquote>The cross is used in many Christian churches as a symbol of the Savior's death and Resurrection and as a sincere expression of faith. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we also remember with reverence the suffering of the Savior. But because the Savior lives, we do not use the symbol of His death as the symbol of our faith.<br /><br />Our lives must be the expression of our faith. When we are baptized and confirmed, we covenant to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. The way we live our lives should demonstrate our love for the Savior and His work. <br /><br />The only members of the Church who wear the symbol of the cross are Latter-day Saint chaplains, who wear it on their military uniforms to show that they are Christian chaplains.</blockquote> <br /><br />In the article “The Symbol of Our Faith,” (Ensign, Apr 2005) Gordon B. Hinckley spoke of a conversation he had with a Protestant minister. Through the course of this conversation he said…<br /><br /><blockquote>“I do not wish to give offense to any of my Christian colleagues who use the cross on the steeples of their cathedrals and at the altars of their chapels, who wear it on their vestments, and imprint it on their books and other literature. But for us, the cross is the symbol of the dying Christ, while our message is a declaration of the Living Christ.”<br /><br />He then asked: “If you do not use the cross, what is the symbol of your religion?”<br /><br />I replied that the lives of our people must become the most meaningful expression of our faith and, in fact, therefore, the symbol of our worship.<br /><br />And so, because our Savior lives, we do not use the symbol of His death as the symbol of our faith. But what shall we use? No sign, no work of art, no representation of form is adequate to express the glory and the wonder of the Living Christ. He told us what that symbol should be when He said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).<br /><br />As His followers, we cannot do a mean or shoddy or ungracious thing without tarnishing His image. Nor can we do a good and gracious and generous act without burnishing more brightly the symbol of Him whose name we have taken upon ourselves. And so our lives must become a meaningful expression, the symbol of our declaration of our testimony of the Living Christ, the Eternal Son of the Living God.”</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SQVp-hvLmGuN57YzU7-U-dKs_y-6py1sE4Oz92nN4-xYc5jWJr0S9ERmc5eMOcD_CEg_GcGMiPxtcTK6It9NOvp0U0OvxbsVOpX9T40b-m2s3hZNrnYgYDhhyphenhyphenwAEOvVkZ9E_6d9ulEGV/s1600-h/CopyrightGlasgowCityCouncilSalvadorDaliChristofStJohnoftheCross.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SQVp-hvLmGuN57YzU7-U-dKs_y-6py1sE4Oz92nN4-xYc5jWJr0S9ERmc5eMOcD_CEg_GcGMiPxtcTK6It9NOvp0U0OvxbsVOpX9T40b-m2s3hZNrnYgYDhhyphenhyphenwAEOvVkZ9E_6d9ulEGV/s400/CopyrightGlasgowCityCouncilSalvadorDaliChristofStJohnoftheCross.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277683619729456850" /></a><br /><br />So, Mormons believe that the cross is a symbol of Christ’s death and they believe that the focus should be on the resurrection. What is interesting is that Hinckley apparently was not well versed on his own website or their view on the topic has been changed since the official statement claims that Christian churches look at the cross as a symbol of both the death and resurrection which appears to take away his justification for not using it. Hinckley and other LDS members seem to have defined the cross for those who actually use it as an emblem of their faith instead of letting them define for themselves what it represents. <br /><br />For Mormons to say that it is only a symbol of the “dying Christ” is a pretty short sighted and shallow way of looking at it. In my time studying about Christianity, I have learned that Christians think so much more of it then just the Savior’s death. To them it is about His sacrifice for our sins which was completed on the cross when Jesus said “It is finished.” It is about the victory over Satan and the ability to be cleansed by the blood Christ shed. It also marked the end of the need for blood sacrifice under the Law of Moses, bringing to an end such things. <br /> <br />To me, without the cross and what happened there, the resurrection would not matter so to ignore the cross to celebrate the resurrection is looking beyond the mark. It is like watching the end of a movie but missing how you got there and what makes it such a powerful conclusion to the story. <br /><br />Many see the cross as the ultimate sign of love, a pure love that is so immense and complex that it could only come from God. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." <br /><br />I am always surprised to see the reaction of the Mormons I come in contact with when they see the cross necklace my wife wears. They act so shocked that she would even think of wearing such a thing. Any Mormon that judges someone for wearing a cross or other religious symbol needs to look in the mirror at night. You wear a religious symbol every day when you put on your temple garments as a reminder of your beliefs and commitments. The cross serves a similar purpose for those that choose to use it. <br /><br />I will leave you with one last passage from the Bible that talks about the importance of the cross.<br /><br />1 Cor 1:17-18 (KJV)<br /><br /><blockquote>17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. <br /><br />(NIV)<br />17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.</blockquote>Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-813210635672772972008-12-08T13:45:00.000-06:002009-09-28T22:49:51.459-05:00I remember it too well...So, I was looking for a video I had seen before regarding another topic when I ran into these. They give an accurate accounting of what missionaries teach on a day to day basis. I remember to well what it was like trying to convince people that what the LDS church believed was right. I recall wincing when some of the more obscure topics would come up. I don't envy those poor boys.<br /><br />I wish I would have been approached like this because I think I would have seen the light sooner and made my exit long before I did. I am impressed at the way this man talked with these missionaries. He was polite, listened and in a calm way danced circles around them. At some point I want to be able to handle myself that way but I doubt I would be that composed. <br /><br />Anyways, take a look and let me know what you think. If nothing else, it is fun to listen to their New Zealand accents.<br /><br /><embed src="http://godtube.com/flvplayer.swf" FlashVars="viewkey=ce41df8b0637939f5090" wmode="transparent" quality="high" width="330" height="270" name="godtube" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /></embed><br /><br /><embed src="http://godtube.com/flvplayer.swf" FlashVars="viewkey=96895205633f3ef695f6" wmode="transparent" quality="high" width="330" height="270" name="godtube" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /></embed><br /><br /><embed src="http://godtube.com/flvplayer.swf" FlashVars="viewkey=e405543c00bd50175108" wmode="transparent" quality="high" width="330" height="270" name="godtube" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /></embed>Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-23936173086366340432008-11-24T13:07:00.000-06:002009-09-28T22:49:51.451-05:00Shackled by the Very Religion That Promises FreedomI have had a good couple of months off from blogging so I’m not sure how many people will come read my blog now but that’s ok with me. To be honest, I have not had much of a desire to dig up old Mormon crap anymore so I took a step back to clear my mind. I think I’m done with the grieving process and really could care less about my past in Mormonism. <br /><br />I now find myself feeling sorry for those that sacrifice happiness today for what they think will bring them “Eternal Life” when they die. It is my belief that they will be sorely disappointed when then they pass from this life to the next when they see how much more they could have enjoyed life living for today instead of what "could be" tomorrow. Many live miserable lives, shackled by the very religion that promises freedom. Blinded by the rhetoric spewed from the mouths of their leaders, they cannot see what they are missing in the world around them and do not realize that they hold the key to unlock the shackles that bind them. <br /><br />For those willing to take off the blindfold for even a few moments and look outside of the prison window, a new world is opened to them. Light shines on their faces, bringing them warmth and comfort. The key glistens in the darkness. The more they look, the more they begin to see and their shady existence becomes evident. The outside world calls to them and even though they place the blindfold over their eyes again to try to block out the light, they can never forget what they had seen and it replays in their mind. Those who choose to go back to their old ways will try to convince themselves that it is better to stay bound and that they are truly happier that way but what they don’t realize is that others can see their misery.<br /><br />Those who cannot ignore the daylight that now penetrates their lives offering clarity never experienced before often choose to take hold of the key and loosen the binds placed on them. Not sure of what the future holds, they step out of the darkness into light never looking back. For those who have spent most of, if not all of their lives involved in Mormonism, life outside is not an easy place to be at first but the chance to really discover who you are while finding your own path through life is certainly worth it.<br /><br /><strong>I have decided to continue to maintain this blog in hopes that I will help at least one person to remove their shackles and start their journey to real freedom outside of a religion that wants nothing more then to keep you in the dark as to what they are really about. </strong>Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-4529140786621605502008-09-17T11:23:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.434-05:00Too many thoughts and not enough paperI know it has been like two weeks since I have updated the blog so I wanted to let everyone know that I currently have 7-8 half finished posts. I tend to be a bit distracted lately but I am working on finishing a few by then end of the week. Some of the topics I will be touching soon are…<br /><br />-Changes to the temple ceremony<br />-The Law of Moses (or lack thereof) in the Book of Mormon<br />-The history of racism in the LDS church <br /> (a series of 3-5 posts)<br /><br />So check back this weekend.Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-28672942311751507072008-09-03T16:23:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.429-05:00Why does this video make me think of Mormonism?I find that I am reminded of the way Mormonism works in some of the strangest places. Watch this video and let me know if you see it too.<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q5im0Ssyyus&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q5im0Ssyyus&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-90884105489598236572008-09-02T13:59:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.424-05:00How much did they know?That is a question I keep asking myself but I’m not sure I will ever find the answer. The pro-noun “they” has taken on different meaning throughout my Mormon exodus. <br /><br />At first it referred to early church leaders like Brigham Young, Martin Harris, John Taylor and others. Was Joseph Smith the “lone gunman” who made all of this up and deceived everyone else or did he have help from these knowing conspirators? <br /><br />What about the leaders of today? We know by his own admission that Hinckley did not know much about church history or doctrine because he made a habit of reminding us in interviews. What about Tommy Monson and his cohorts? How much do they know? Are they knowingly deceiving their loyal followers today? Do they have a “president’s book” like in the movie National Treasure 2 where each president writes down their secrets and things they need to keep hidden from everyone else? <br /><br />Then you have local leaders and mission presidents. What do they know? After all, the prophet has told members not to write to him and the apostles any more for clarification on doctrinal issues and that this should be handled on a local level. Does that mean that bishops and stake presidents are really better equipped to answer questions about contradicting points of doctrine and history or do they know these local leaders will keep up the company image and perpetuate the lies? <br /><br />The “they” group that I keep wondering about now is my parents (they don’t read this blog or at least they don’t admit to it). Neither one is really willing to talk to me about what I have found, especially my mom. The one time I brought up the fact that there are multiple accounts of the first vision that all contradict one another she did not take it well and accused me of attacking her faith and told me not to talk about it anymore. I don’t think she had ever heard that before so I wonder just what she does know. On the same note, my dad has been a little more open about talking about it but seemed equally confused when I mentioned that his beloved Hinckley openly said that he did not know that Mormons believe that God was once a man. My dad was shocked that he would say that because he knows that this is a core doctrine of Mormonism. <br /><br />I would love to find out exactly what “negative”, “non-faith promoting” truth they know because they never shared any of it with me. If it turns out that they knew even a fraction of the things I know now and never felt the need to share them with me so I could come to my own conclusion about them, then I don’t know if I would be able to forgive them for the years I lost and the guilt I felt while trying to live in a religion that did not teach the truth and forced me to be someone I was not. Not respecting my intelligence enough to give me all the information they had to let me make up my own mind is an insult. <br /><br />Why are they so afraid of what I have to say? Are they frightened that I will say something that will shake their testimony? If they are, then what does that say about their religious conviction? <br /><br /><strong>How much did they know?</strong>Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-41945829408153852772008-08-28T15:52:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.417-05:00If history doesn't matter...This is a letter that I have wanted to post for a few days now but I did not feel right about using someone else’s work. But, as I read it again, it is just too spot-on to not post. It was written on Post-Mormon.org by a lady named “howdimissthat”. She is the wife of a Bishop and has doubted the church for a while now. She just started to discuss her issues with her husband because it came time to renew her temple recommend and she could not do it unless she lied and she was not willing to do that. I respect her honesty and love reading what she has to say. This letter is in response to her sister’s comments on how the history of the LDS church is not important. It is with her permission that I am using this.<br /><br /><blockquote>Yes, history is history, but the church is based and exists because of its history. Without the grove, the prayer, we have nothing, no history no church. As Pres. Hinckley said either the first vision happened or it didn't, you can look up the rest of that quote if you would like but it is history so maybe it doesn't matter anymore. The church is based on its history. A testimony is based on truth. If the history has been tampered with, and the church exists because of the history, then what do we base the testimony on? The history is our salvation. Every revelation is based on its history, when it came, how it came, who was told, what was said, that's its history, no history means it never happened. How many times have we been told if we don't know the history of our country we are bound to repeat the same mistakes from the past. History is critical to keep us from repeating the same mistakes. If history doesn't matter then a good portion of the BoM was unnecessary, it is a history of the Lamanites, only the doctrine should have been passed on if the history wasn't important to our salvation. The Bible, a history book, is it unimportant to our salvation too? <br /> <br />I don't expect perfection or a pretty past but I do expect honesty. The history isn't the biggest problem; it's that I have never been told the true history, just the white washed version. If history doesn't matter why change it to make it more palatable? Leave it as it was originally recorded. Changing it changes everything. The lesson manuals are full of history, their version, not the facts. If history doesn't matter why bring it up at all, anywhere? If history doesn't matter why re-enact the pioneer trek. If history doesn't matter why did the church build a museum to contain its history or a new library? If history doesn't matter why repent, it's history and history doesn't matter. If history doesn't matter why are we told to keep a journal, it is a history and of no value and there is nothing to be learned from it. If history doesn't matter why are we continually told to follow those who have gone before us and learn from their history? Or are we to handpick only the best stories and let the rest go as unimportant. Or should we change the history to better reflect what we prefer to believe? <br /> <br />Satan is the father of all lies, we have been told lies, I did not create the lies I only discovered them but I am paying a high price for not accepting the lies, being honest with myself and with my family. I couldn't quote all the scripture about the importance of being honest and the importance of honesty to our salvation; do those scriptures exclude the leaders? Is the beginning of the 13th article of faith still in effect? Are the ordinary members the only ones expected to be honest with our fellow men? <br /> <br />I have only been offended by the lack of honesty in presenting our history. It is shameful we exist because of our history and then deny its importance when it becomes a problem. This has nothing to do with the trust and love I have for my husband. This has nothing to do with the trust I have in the Lord. This has nothing to do with expecting perfection, I do not expect perfection. I do expect honesty; I don't think that is too much to ask from men of God. </blockquote> <br /><br /><br />I could not agree more!Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-38692524593794877952008-08-28T15:34:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.410-05:00Irony and ContradictionsI prefer to post original ideas on my blog and try to refrain from posting exact ideas from other people, this list was too good to pass up. A member of Post-Mormon.org made this list of Irony and Contradictions they see in the Mormon church.<br /><br />-300 pound Mormons, on their way back from the desert bar at the buffet for the second time, who look down their noses at the marathon runner who is finishing off her modest meal with the glass of red wine her doctor has told her will improve her heath.<br /><br />-About to leave missionaries who are celebrated by the largest crowds of their obscure lives, while simultaneously being told that the rush they feel in the midst of this momentarily adulation is due to the fact that they are finally "keeping their eye single to the Glory of God." The honors of men have nothing to do with what they feel. Ditto for the GAs.<br /><br />-Feeling confident for years that I was so much better off relying upon the arm of God than the arm of flesh, and then finding that the arm of God was in fact the flabby old arms of Packer, GBH et al.<br /><br /> <br />-Having to go to tithing settlement to "settle" with the lord, yet the church's finances go unchecked. <br /> <br />-<strong>Maybe the biggest irony is becoming one of those apostates I thought were all bitter and miserable, but being happier than I ever have in my life.</strong> <br /> <br />-Whenever I said "I know this church is true" there was always a nagging doubt inside. It was a slight physical twang in my chest. It would have sent the polygraph needle swinging. Now, whenever I say "The church is a fraud." I feel completely confident and comfortable in my answer. <br /> <br />-The boiling frog parable: Sin gets you a little bit at a time, without you realizing it; and before you know it, you are dead. <br />Contrast that with:<br />Milk before meat: New members and investigators can't handle the whole truth. They need to be spoon-fed a little bit at a time until they have a testimony. <br /> <br />-On the one hand claiming that gospel principles are "beautiful in their simplicity." On the other hand, when things get messy or don't make sense, "the gospel isn't supposed to be logical.” <br /> <br />-I love the contradiction between the 'plain and precious truths" and "Well, we don't know the answer to that question. It will all make sense in the next life." <br /> <br />-Free agency applies except in the church, then it is all about unquestioning obedience. <br /> <br />-Feelings ("the witness of the HG") but you can only believe those feelings if they tell you that church is true! <br /> <br />-Secret Combinations vs. The Temple Ceremony <br /> <br />-The "Restoration" of the "Apostasy." I mean what other church is better at changing ordinances, teaching false doctrine, pretending prophecy, and modifying their foundation than the good old Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?!!! <br /> <br />-While the modern mainstream LDS church abhors and condemns any sexual activity outside of marriage, 19th-century church leaders were having sex with up to dozens of women to whom they were not legally married.<br /><br />-And while 19th-century church leaders proclaimed for decades that polygamy was God's form of marriage, and that polygamy was necessary for salvation, and that monogamy was concocted by pagan Romans etc.---the modern LDS church is possibly the most anti-polygamous religion on earth. <br /> <br />-We have prophets, seers and revelators up the wazoo but receive no prophecies or revelations. <br /> <br />-Mormons who will NEVER go to see the Passion of the Christ movie because it is rated R. Wouldn’t the Bible be rated R?Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-16196449204224340152008-08-26T12:18:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.545-05:00Teachings of Presidents of the Church - Jesus Christ?One thing that has been on my mind recently is the lack of real focus on Jesus in the everyday Mormon teachings. I’m going to get flamed for that comment but I just call it how I see it and I will show you why. Each year in Sunday School they pick a book of scripture to read and study. It usually goes in order like Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants/Pearl of Great Price, Old Testament, and New Testament. So once every four years they read the New Testament and, if the one leading the class does their job right, they should get a good amount of His teachings but that is not what always happens. In Priesthood/Relief Society Meeting, they talk about selected topics out of a manual. For the past 9 years they have used a series of manuals called “Teachings of Presidents of the Church”. (On a side note, why do they call them “Presidents” now and not “Prophets” like they used to?) Each year, the books have focused on the teachings of a specific “modern prophet”. The prophets they have focused on so far have been Spencer W. Kimball, Wilford Woodruff, Harold B. Lee, David O. McKay, Heber J. Grant, Joseph F. Smith, John Taylor, Brigham Young and for 2008 and 2009 they will be learning about Joseph Smith Jr. If I did my math right, that is 10 years and probably more after that, in which they will spend a full hour each Sunday learning what their “Latter-Day Prophets” have had to say about key Mormon doctrine.<br /> <br />I took a minute and looked at each book and sure enough there are a few lessons in each one about Jesus, but interestingly enough, there is also at least one lesson that focuses entirely on Joseph Smith. The rest of the lessons talk about things like temple work, tithing, the importance of scripture study, following modern day prophets, obedience, missionary work, prayer and service. That is just to name a few. <br /><br />Obviously, the fact that the LDS church claims to have a living prophet is unique to them so they want to emphasize that belief but in doing that, are they neglecting the most important prophet of them all?<br /><br />The claim is that the LDS church is the “restored” church that Jesus himself established during his ministry. The merit of that claim is a topic for another blog but if they really believe that, why not put His teachings at the forefront of their Sunday worship? Is it not better to read directly what he taught in the New Testament and really delve into His word? Is it not His word that we will be judged against? With all he taught, I would think there would be enough material to last at least a couple of years. If they can get 2 years out of what Joseph Smith taught, I would hope they could do the same if not more from what Jesus did. <br /><br />When I left the LDS church I went and got a new Bible. I got a King James Version because that is what I was used to but my new one has a feature that I really like. Any time Jesus speaks, his words are written in red so they stand out. How cool is that! It makes it just that much easier to focus on His teachings which is where our focus should be.<br /><br />I can’t remember if I have used this verse before but it is quickly becoming one of my favorites.<br /><br />Hebrews 1:1-2 (NIV)<br /><br /><blockquote>1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, <br />2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.</blockquote> <br /><br />If God spoke to us by way of prophets but now speaks to use through Christ, why are we even talking about "modern prophets" anyway? There does not seem to be any need for them because we now have Christ's teachings which those living before him lacked, thus needing the prophets to remind them of what He was going to do for them. Since we live after him we need to follow His teachings above anyone else's because he fulfilled what was said through the prophets.Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-46875832679391991652008-08-18T20:50:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.559-05:00Nooma 001 - RainSo I have started watching this series of short messaged by Rob Bell called Nooma. I already did a post about one of his videos, but I have decided to start from the beginning and post about each one of them. What is so great about theses messages is that they are short but filled with so many deep messages. <br /><br />In his first video “Rain” he tells the story of how he was on a walk with his year old son on a beautiful, clear summer morning. All of a sudden, it started to rain. He describes the rain as a “drenching rain”. It was the kind that completely soaks your body and mats your hair to your head. <br /><br />His main point was that “it always rains”. It is not a matter of “if” it rains, but rather “when” it rains. We might not expect it or plan for it, but at one time or another, it will come. <br /><br />Now, when it started to rain, he and his son were almost exactly half way around the lake with no shelter. At first his boy did not have a problem because the rain was light but as it intensified, he began to cry. As time when on, his cry turned into a deep, scared and passionate cry that came from deep within. He talks about the power the word “cry” has in the Bible and how God cannot ignore the cries deep cries of need. <br /><br />Psalm 107:27-29 (King James Version)<br /><blockquote>27. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. <br />28. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. <br />29. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.</blockquote> <br /><br />He continues his story by saying that in an effort to comfort his child, he holds him close to his chest and tells him, “I love you buddy, were going make it, dad knows the way home, you’re going make it, I love you.”<br />He kept repeating those words until he got his son back to safety. <br /><br />When you cry Jesus is close to the broken hearted and to those who admit they are scared, lost, soaking wet and confused.<br /><br />In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. The essence of Salvation is admitting to God that you are lost and that you don’t have it all together and are hurting. Admitting that opens the door for him to enter your life and heal your pain or help you take that extra step when you feel like you cannot go any further. <br /><br />While in a storm, it is common to not be able to see very far in front of you. You cannot see what lies ahead or if it will end soon. God however, can see from above what we are gong through and knows how to help us get through whatever type of storm we may be experiencing at the time. <br /><br />For years, I have carried a small piece of laminated paper in my wallet that has a few paragraphs on it that relates to this idea. Until tonight, I did not know where it came from (I love the internet) but apparently it is from a LDS magazine called The Friend back in 1992. Despite my issues with its origin, I still agree with what it says.<br /><br /><blockquote>“I learned something important that day about my father’s point of view. He could see more than I. He could tell that I would make it—but he let me find out for myself.<br /><br />I think Heavenly Father is like that. When I’m thrashing along with a bad habit I can’t seem to change, or a goal I can’t seem to reach, thinking I’m not good enough and about to “sink,” I remember that Heavenly Father can see more than I. Perhaps I’m moving in the right direction and don’t know it yet. Perhaps He knows how close I am to safety and success and has the confidence in me that I lack in myself. Perhaps He wants me to learn and grow from a hard experience. Sometimes when I’m struggling the hardest, I wonder why He doesn’t “jump in” and help me. That’s when I remember my dad saying, “You were doing fine.”<br /><br />I know Father is watching. He’ll help me when I really need Him to. But for now I just need to keep kicking.”</blockquote><br /><br />I have not reached the point yet to where I can take that leap of faith and cry out to God but I will admit that there have been many times recently where my desire to do so has been very strong, only to be stopped by my lack of trust/faith in his existence and ability to help. <br /><br /><br />In the scriptures it talks about how the Lord carries us like a father carries a son. That must be an awesome feeling.Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-78116086039030734452008-08-11T20:19:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.565-05:00Was that really false doctrine?Last night I went with my wife to visit some of her friends that she had not seen for a few years. They are all members of the LDS church so a discussion about religion was inevitable. There were a few things that were said that made me raise my eyebrow. <br /><br />At times they said some really honest/transparent statements which was refreshing. One of the first things mentioned was that Joseph F Smith (I think that is who he said is was) actually took the “History of the Church” that was written and took out all of the embarrassing or negative parts. I must say he is the only one who I have ever heard actually admit that their history has been hidden or whitewashed. The thing that puzzled me though is that it did not seem to bother him. He just passed it off as fact but of no real significance. I don’t understand how they can openly say that the Mormon church is not being truthful but not see that as a red flag. <br /><br />The other thing I thought was interesting was that one of the guys there was a seminary teacher for the church. He told a story about how one day he was teaching and he inadvertently taught “false doctrine”. It happened to be on a day when he was being observed and after class, he was called out on it and had to correct his statements the next day. I asked what the false doctrine was and he said that it was the idea that God was once not just a man but a “savior” like Jesus. Oddly enough, I had earlier this week read the King Follet Sermon which was given by Joseph Smith in the Conference of the church in April, 1844 (just 2 months before he died). It is in this sermon that the Mormon belief on the nature of God was defined and the topic he said was a “false doctrine” was addressed. Here are some quotes from the sermon.<br /><br /><blockquote>It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, and to know that we may converse with Him as one man converses with another, and that <strong>He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on <em>an</em> earth, <em>the same as Jesus Christ Himself did</em></strong>; and I will show it from the Bible. <br /><br />The scriptures inform us the Jesus said, as the Father hath power in himself, even so hath the Son power – to do what? Why, what the Father did. The answer is obvious – <strong>in a manner to lay down his body and take it up again.</strong> Jesus, what are you going to do? <strong>To lay down my life as my Father did, and take it up again.</strong> Do you believe it? If you do not believe it you do not believe the Bible. The scriptures say it, and I defy all the learning and wisdom and all the combined powers of earth and hell together to refute it. </blockquote><br /><br />I tried to find where Jesus says those things and the closest thing I would find that was in John 10. <br /><br /><blockquote>17.Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. <br /><br />18.No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.</blockquote><br /><br /><br />If that is what he is talking about then I think it is a bit of a stretch. <br /><br />Why am I writing about this particular part of the King Follet Sermon? Because it points out not only the outlandish claims of Joseph Smith but it also shows how there is no unity in doctrine amongst the members today. Joseph Smith clearly states that Jesus laid down his life and took it up again “as my Father did”. To me, that cannot be taken any other way but to say that Joseph Smith taught that God was once a savior and that he laid down his life when he was on his earth like Christ did on ours. Somehow, the person who was observing the seminary teacher took it upon himself to correct a teaching that really was not out of line with what Joseph proclaimed. This teacher believes to this day that he was in the wrong, even after going over the quotes again. <br /><br />The LDS church really has failed to solidify their doctrine and make it clear what they really do believe. That fosters an atmosphere of confusion and really makes conversation hard. I’ve heard it said a lot of times that getting a firm answer on doctrine is like trying to nail Jell-O to the wall. Impossible!Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com69tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-40853984571475602612008-08-08T10:43:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.572-05:00DesiderataI have been reading a lot lately trying to find my course in life now that my Mormon path lead to a dead-end. I'm still not sure exactly which trail I want/need to travel but I'm starting to enjoy the freedom found in marking my own way. About a month ago I came upon this poem that I had read before; in fact it was hanging in my mom’s home office for years. It is only now, at my current place in life that I can begin to understand the wisdom found in its words. I’ve started to read it each day and it is my hope that as time goes by, I will be able to emulate the ideas expressed in such eloquent terms.<br /> <br /><blockquote><strong>Desiderata</strong><br /><br />Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,<br />and remember what peace there may be in silence. <br />As far as possible, without surrender, <br />be on good terms with all persons.<br />Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,<br />even to the dull and ignorant;<br />they too have their story.<br /><br />Avoid loud and aggressive persons;<br />they are vexatious to the spirit.<br />If you compare yourself with others,<br />you may become vain or bitter,<br />for always there will be<br />greater and lesser persons than yourself.<br /><br />Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.<br />Keep interested in your own career<br />however humble;<br />it is a real possession in the <br />changing fortunes of time.<br /><br />Exercise caution in your business affairs,<br />for the world is full of trickery.<br />But let this not blind you<br />to what virtue there is;<br />many persons strive for high ideals,<br />and everywhere life is full of heroism.<br /><br />Be yourself.<br />Especially do not feign affection.<br />Neither be cynical about love,<br />for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,<br />it is as perennial as the grass.<br /><br />Take kindly the counsel of the years,<br />gracefully surrendering the things of youth.<br />Nurture strength of spirit<br />to shield you in sudden misfortune.<br />But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.<br />Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.<br /><br />Beyond a wholesome discipline,<br />be gentle with yourself.<br />You are a child of the universe<br />no less than the trees and the stars;<br />you have a right to be here.<br /><br />And whether or not it is clear to you,<br />no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.<br />Therefore, be at peace with God,<br />whatever you conceive Him to be.<br />And whatever your labors and aspirations,<br />in the noisy confusion of life,<br />keep peace in your soul.<br />With all its sham,<br />drudgery, and broken dreams,<br />it is still a beautiful world.<br />Be cheerful.<br />Strive to be happy.<br /><br />by Max Ehrmann</blockquote>Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-3724804464768900302008-08-04T13:05:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.581-05:00Mormon Doctrine of DeityWhile reading the “Mormon Coffee” blog the other day, I read a quote from Parley P. Pratt that I thought was interesting enough to post about here. For those who don’t know, Parley Pratt was one of the original 12 Apostles in the LDS church. This quote originally appeared in a church paper called “the Prophet” but was also used in a book called <em>Mormon Doctrine of Deity </em>by B.H. Roberts who was a member of the First Council of Seventy (a step below the 12 Apostles) for 45 years. On FAIR (a site dedicated to defending Mormonism) they talk about Roberts and this book.<br /><br /><blockquote>This classic book is by Elder Brigham H. Roberts, a General Authority noted for his doctrinal knowledge and literary skills.<br /><br />Mormon Doctrine of Deity is one of the most comprehensive statements and scriptural presentations of the Latter-day Saint doctrine of the nature of God in print.<br /><br />Mormon Doctrine of Deity is highly readable. It is scriptural, it is logical, it is comprehensive.</blockquote><br /><br />Here are the main points Parley P. Pratt made about the Mormon belief regarding the nature of Deity. <br /> <br /><blockquote>What is God? He is a material intelligence, possessing both body and parts. He is in the form of man, and is in fact of the same species; and is a model, or standard of perfection to which man is destined to attain: he being the great Father and head of the whole family.<br /><br />He can go, come, converse, reason, eat, drink, love, hate, rejoice, possesss [sic] and enjoy. He can also travel space with all the ease and intelligence necessary, for moving from planet to planet, and from system to system.<br /><br /><strong>This being cannot occupy two distinct places at once. Therefore, he cannot be (in person) everywhere present….</strong><br /><br />What is Jesus Christ? He is the son of God, and is in every way like his father,… He is material intelligence, with body, parts and passions; possessing immortal flesh and immortal bones. He can…perform all things even as the Father—possessing the same power and attributes. And he, too, can travel space, and go from world to world, and from system to system, <strong>precisely like the Father; but cannot occupy two places at once.</strong><br /><br />What are angels? They are intelligences of the human species. Many of them are offsprings of Adam and Eve. That is, they are like Enoch or Elijah, been translated; or, like Jesus Christ, been raised from the dead;… They can go or come on foreign missions, in heaven, earth, or hell; and they can travel space, and visit the different worlds, with all the ease and alacrity with which God and Christ do the same,…<br /><br />What are spirits? They are material intelligences, possessing body and parts in the likeness of the temporal body; but not composed of flesh and bones, but of some substance less tangible to our gross senses in our present life; but tangible to those in the same element as themselves. In short, they are men in embrio [sic] –intelligences waiting to come into the natural world and take upon them flesh and bones, that through birth, death, and the resurrection they may also be perfected in the material organization. Such was Jesus Christ, and such were we before we came into this world, and such we will be again, in the intervening space between death and the resurrection.<br /><br />What are men? They are the offspring of God, the Father, and brothers of Jesus Christ. They were once intelligent spirits in the presence of God, and were with him before the earth was formed. They are now in disguise as it were, in order to pass through the several changes, and the experience necessary to constitute them perfect beings.<br /><br />They are capable of receiving intelligence and exaltation to such a degree, as to be raised from the dead with a body like that of Jesus Christ’s, and to… go on missions from planet to planet, or from system to system: being Gods, or sons of God, endowed with the same powers, attributes and capacities that their heavenly Father and Jesus Christ possess.<br /><br />What are all these beings taken together, or summed up under one head? They are one great family, all of the same species, all related to each other, all bound together by kindred ties, interests, sympathies, and affections. <strong>In short they are all Gods; or rather, men are the offspring or children of the Gods, and destined to advance by degrees, and to make their way by a progressive series of changes, till they become like their Father in heaven, and like Jesus Christ their elder brother.</strong><br /><br />Thus perfected, the whole family will possess the material universe, that is, the earth, and all other planets, and worlds, as “an inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away.” <strong>They will also continue to organize, people, redeem, and perfect other systems which are now in the womb of Chaos, and thus go on increasing their several dominions, till the weakest child of God which now exists upon the earth will possess MORE DOMINION, MORE PROPERTY, MORE SUBJECTS, and MORE POWER and GLORY than is possessed by Jesus Christ or by his Father</strong>; while at the same time Jesus Christ and his Father, will have dominion, kingdoms, and subjects increased in proportion.<br /><br />Such are the riches, glories, blessings, honors, thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, held out by the system of materialism.<br /><br /><strong>Such the wealth, the dignity, the nobility, the titles and honors to which “Mormons” aspire.</strong> Such the promises of him whose word can never fail.<br /><br />With these hopes and prospects before us, we say to the Christian world, who hold to immateriality, that they are welcome to their God–their life—their heaven, and their all.<br /><br />They claim nothing but that which we throw away, and we claim nothing but that which they throw away. Therefore, there is no ground for quarrel, or contention between us. (Mormon Doctrine of Deity, pages 255-258 emphasis added)</blockquote><br /><br />The article is printed in its entirety in Roberts book.<br /> <br />The <strong>bold</strong> parts are the one that really stuck out in my mind. I have always understood that churches believe that God is Omnipresent (present in all places at all times) but according to Pratt, this is not the case. It is the LDS belief that God, because he has a real body of flesh and bone, cannot be in more than one place at a time. Now, I vaguely remember being taught that when I was a child, that both God and Jesus can only be in one place but the Holy Ghost can be everywhere at once because he does not have a body. Looking at it now, I see how this is in stark contrast to the normal Christian belief.<br /> <br />The other part that really hit me was where he talks about how even the “weakest child of God” will possess more power, dominion, property, and subjects then God/Jesus. WOW, I have never heard that before and in truth, it baffles me. How can they teach that we will become not just LIKE God but BETTER then God? Is it not taught that God is “Omnipotent” or “Almighty” which means having absolute power over all? According to Pratt, it seems that God is not Omnipresent or Omnipotent and if you look at Mormon doctrine about how God came to be, having once been a normal man himself, later being exalted to the status of a God, he is also not the “Alpha” or “Omega” spoken of in Revelations. <strong>So if Mormon doctrine teaches that God is not the Alpha and Omega, Omnipotent and Omnipresent, then what on earth do they believe God is?</strong><br /><br />Reading things like this really make me wonder how they can even make the argument that they are Christian. These teaching are about as contradictory as you can get with the Trinitarian Christian world.Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-80396729533678993822008-07-30T15:28:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.589-05:00ProtestantismHere is some more of what the "Encyclopedia of Mormonism" has to say, this time about Protestant beliefs.<br /><br /><blockquote>Christian Protestantism may be viewed as the product of late medieval "protests" against various elements of the Roman Catholic church. Though there were always persons within Catholicism pressing for reforms, the beginning of the Protestant Reformation is usually dated to 1517 when Martin Luther (1483-1546), an Augustinian monk in Wittenberg, Germany, published his ninety-five theses against papal indulgences. The theses challenged the authority of the pope and by extension of the Roman Catholic church. Protestants since that time are generally considered to be those Christians who are neither Roman Catholics nor Eastern (or Russian) Orthodox.<br /><br />Although Protestant theology is varied today, it can be characterized by four basic beliefs: (1) the Bible is the Word of God and all authority resides within its pages as it bears witness to Jesus Christ; (2) the Bible should be in the language of the people, who, by the power of the Holy Ghost, can gain their own understanding of God's Word; (3) all church members hold the priesthood and should be involved in the total life of the church, meaning that no mediatorial priesthood is necessary; and (4) people are saved by their faith, through the grace of God, and not by any works they may do apart from or in addition to faith.<br /><br />While Latter-day Saints share with Protestants a conviction of the importance of the scriptures, an extensive lay priesthood (but given only by the laying on of hands by those having proper priesthood authority), and the primacy of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior as the first principle of the gospel, they differ from them by affirming a centralized authority headed by a latter-day prophet and by a number of other doctrines unique to the Church, i.e. temple ordinances for the living and the dead, and the eternal nature of the marriage covenant. Despite some important differences, Latter-day Saints actually share much in doctrine, heritage, and aspiration with Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestants. Even so, they view themselves as embodying an independent Christian tradition standing on its own apart from these other traditions. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a reformation of a previously existing ecclesiastical body but is instead a restoration through heavenly ministrations of authority and of truths, structures, and scriptures that God returned to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith and his successors.</blockquote><br /><br />I admit that I don’t know much yet about other religious views outside of Mormonism so I wonder if they got it right.Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-24501098611538873982008-07-30T09:59:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.631-05:00Mother in HeavenHere is a fun one for you. There is an underlining belief that God is married (which is consistent with the idea that you can be an “eternal family” and become a God yourself if you do everything right). <br /><br />On the front page of LDS.org they advertise the completion of the on-line text of what is called the <a href="http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Encyclopedia_of_Mormonism">“Encyclopedia of Mormonism”</a>. As with most LDS material, it comes with a disclaimer…<br /><br /><blockquote><em>Note: This encyclopedia is a joint product of Brigham Young University and Macmillan Publishing Company and does not necessarily represent the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.</em></blockquote><br /><br />My thought is that if you put it on your website, you obviously find it to be of value and support its use. If there were things in it that do not accurately show the “official position” of the LDS church, I’m sure they would have had them changed before they promoted it.<br /><br />Anyways, I’m going to post selected topics that I think will be of interest. Here is what it says about the belief in a Heavenly Mother.<br /> <br /><br /><blockquote>Latter-day Saints infer from authoritative sources of scripture and modern prophecy that there is a Heavenly Mother as well as a Heavenly Father.<br />The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rejects the idea found in some religions that the spirits or souls of individual human beings are created ex nihilo. Rather it accepts literally the vital scriptural teaching as worded by Paul: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." This and other scriptures underscore not only spiritual sibling relationships but heirship with God, and a destiny of joint heirship with Christ (Rom. 8:16-18; cf. Mal. 2:10).<br /><br />Latter-day Saints believe that all the people of earth who lived or will live are actual spiritual offspring of God the Eternal Father (Num. 16:22; Heb. 12:9). In this perspective, parenthood requires both father and mother, whether for the creation of spirits in the premortal life or of physical tabernacles on earth. A Heavenly Mother shares parenthood with the Heavenly Father. This concept leads Latter-day Saints to believe that she is like him in glory, perfection, compassion, wisdom, and holiness.<br /><br />Elohim, the name-title for God, suggests the plural of the Caananite El or the Hebrew Eloah. It is used in various Hebrew combinations to describe the highest God. It is the majestic title of the ultimate deity. Genesis 1:27reads, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them" (emphasis added), which may be read to mean that "God" is plural.<br />For Latter-day Saints, the concept of eternal family is more than a firm belief; it governs their way of life. It is the eternal plan of life, stretching from life before through life beyond mortality.<br /><br />As early as 1839 the Prophet Joseph Smith taught the concept of an eternal mother, as reported in several accounts from that period. Out of his teaching came a hymn that Latter-day Saints learn, sing, quote, and cherish, "O My Father," by Eliza R. Snow. President Wilford Woodruff called it a revelation (Woodruff, p. 62). In the heav'ns are parents single? No, the thought makes reason stare! Truth is reason; truth eternal Tells me I've a mother there. When I leave this frail existence, When I lay this mortal by, Father, Mother, may I meet you In your royal courts on high? [Hymn no. 292]<br /><br />In 1909 the First Presidency, under Joseph F. Smith, issued a statement on the origin of man that teaches that "man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father," as an "offspring of celestial parentage," and further teaches that "all men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity" (Smith, pp. 199-205).<br /><br />Belief that there is a Mother in Heaven who is a partner with God in creation and procreation is not the same as the heavy emphasis on Mariology in the Roman tradition.<br /><br />Today the belief in a living Mother in Heaven is implicit in Latter-day Saint thought. Though the scriptures contain only hints, statements from presidents of the church over the years indicate that human beings have a Heavenly Mother as well as a Heavenly Father.</blockquote><br /><br />I'm curious to know what the "Christian" view on this is.Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-25815850695560524732008-07-23T12:41:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.639-05:00Part of the problem with the Mormon teachings and cultureI was lead to this audio clip from the Dr. Laura Show that has her discussing if a husband (the caller) should divorce his wife because she wants to leave the Mormon church. Listen to it <a href="http://inconnu.islug.org/~ink/xm/DrLaura_Exmo_June8.mp3">HERE</a>.<br /><br />The Mormon culture breeds a sense of “if you are not with us, you are against us” which leads to this idea that if someone chooses a different path, all ties should be cut. Thankfully, there are some who go against this kind of thinking and do not care what church a person goes to and to me they are special people. It is not always easy to distinguish who these people are because, as I have found out through my experience, many act like they are true friends to your face but once you turn your back they are the first to condemn you.<br /><br />After listening to this clip, it is easy to see that it is the teachings of “eternal marriage” that causes a great divide in families if just one member chooses to not play the game anymore. How sad is it that this man actually thought that he would be justified in leaving his wife of like 14 years, who converted to Mormonism FOR HIM no less, along with their two kids just because she is considering or maybe already has gone to another church. This is the horrible side affect temple marriage has on families. <br /><br />My mother has had 2 temple marriages and both ended in divorce. While I don’t know all of the details of what happened with either of them, I can give my opinion from my point of view. My mom probably tries harder then any Mormon I know to do everything she is supposed to do and do it right. The down side to that is she is not very tolerant of others when they do not live up to the same standards she has or expects. From where I sit, this is what drove her husbands away. If you push someone long enough to be something they are not or can never be, eventually they will tire of it and walk away. I don’t think my father or step-father should be excused for any wrong doing they might have be part of but I do think it was her “you have to be a perfect Mormon” attitude that drove them away. <br /><br />Unfortunately, she is not the only one. I know of many women who had no hesitation in their voice when they said that they would leave their husbands if they ever went inactive or left the church. I think they are missing the point about being focused on family. <br /><br />I am so thankful that I have a wife who, no matter what others were saying, stuck by my side to support me and love me when I decided I had been Mormon long enough. She showed true unconditional love that many members of the LDS church lack. I am blessed to have her by my side.Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-13257415685529183182008-07-09T11:17:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.646-05:00Exposing the Temple CeremonyThe other day I ran accross a video that showed a man going through the temple ceremony, wearing the robes and all. I was not sure if I should post it here but today I read <a href="http://blog.mrm.org/2008/07/the-duty-to-expose-a-shameful-ceremony-is-infinitely-more-sacred-than-a-shameful-ceremony/">THIS POST</a> on Mormon Coffee. I have linked to it so you can read it if you choose. I think it is pretty good.Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748854314554240432.post-51896119507751668382008-07-09T09:41:00.000-05:002009-09-28T22:49:51.653-05:00The best part of waking up is Starbucks in your cup!This morning I had my first freshly brewed cup of coffee from our new coffee maker. We bought the coffee maker on July 4th and I finally got around to taking it out of the box last night. Having never made coffee before, I felt the need to read the instructions (which I usually never do). I set the timer, added the coffee and water and waited like a kid on Christmas Eve to see if it would really work. 6:00 this morning the smell of Starbucks Breakfast Blend started to fill the house. I did it! I brewed my first cup of coffee! How silly does that sound coming from a 30 year old man? <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQg6n38_7ib1ehWU0zPcjYdeZ-xecFK3glzWzxB4unzDbxrOeDbO9XwQKij_J6lm9PaF79mQi7RnrsWc4yU7rguNoOfxdrU4wiz4_GMv6L5XJnpWiMx5GQHLymGUa9BokbJuhUDNel87nn/s1600-h/Breakfast+Blend.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQg6n38_7ib1ehWU0zPcjYdeZ-xecFK3glzWzxB4unzDbxrOeDbO9XwQKij_J6lm9PaF79mQi7RnrsWc4yU7rguNoOfxdrU4wiz4_GMv6L5XJnpWiMx5GQHLymGUa9BokbJuhUDNel87nn/s400/Breakfast+Blend.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221025025516623810" /></a> <br /><br /><blockquote><em>“Starbucks® Breakfast Blend is light-bodied and light-roasted, and it will imbue your morning with its essence. This blend makes a bright impression as it sparkles and dances on your tongue - a sign of crisp acidity. A mild and flavorful coffee awaits you.”</em></blockquote><br /><br />As I poured it into my Winnie the Pooh Christmas Mug (that up till now was reserved for hot-coco), part of me was excited while the other half was nervous. How much creamer do I add? What about sugar? I don’t want to make it too sweet but if I don’t put enough in…yuck. A couple shakes of creamer and 3 tea spoons of sugar later, it was done and there was no going back. I was late for work so I had to run out the door without being able to taste and modify if needed. Knowing that it was going to be hot, I let it cool down a bit and then I took my first sip. WOW! It was good! Not bitter, like I had feared. Instead, it was smooth with just a hint of sweet. I did not notice the earthy taste till after the cup was gone but by then I was hooked. I wish I would have given myself more time at the house to drink it because I could have easily had another cup. <br /><br />We got the “half-caf” because we know that Amy cannot take it full strength yet. For me, it seems to be just enough to perk-me-up and get me moving. I don’t feel jittery or overly stimulated which I guess is good. <br /><br />Its funny how for years, I grew up thinking that coffee was such a bad thing. When you actually read about the benefits, you see that it can be quite good for you because of the high levels of antioxidants. Even the high level of caffeine in coffee has been found to help reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease. It also has a tendency to reduce the affects of Type 2 Diabetes by improving the body's response to insulin. As with anything, moderation (a few cups a day according to a study done by Harvard University) is the key and you should only drink the amount your body can handle but it seems like the idea I had in my head about coffee was opposite of reality. <br /><br />As I was drinking my hot cup-of-joe in the car, I remembered this movie and I though it was perfect for the situation.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V8fotJXG4_0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V8fotJXG4_0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Soy Yohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11264081185626897923noreply@blogger.com6