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April 7th, 2012
08:48 AM ET
Taking a rare tour of a Mormon templeBy Eric Marrapodi and Brian Todd, CNN Kansas City, Missouri (CNN) - Elder William Walker slipped white booties over his black wing-tip shoes and instructed his guests to do the same as he led them into the newest Mormon temple in the world. This day was the first chance the public had to see inside the sacred space for the area’s 49,000 Mormons, and it was also one of the last. On May 6, when Thomas S. Monson, the head of the 14 million member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, dedicates this temple, the doors will close forever to the public. The church said it expects as many as 100,000 visitors in Kansas City before the temple will be closed to the public. After that, only temple-recommended Mormons will be able to walk through the heavy wooden and stained-glass doors. “This is a sacred space, set apart place for only those who are devout followers of the faith,” Walker said. For Mormons, temples serve as places of contemplation, instruction and worship experiences, like weddings and posthumous baptisms. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories The 67-year-old Walker is the executive director of the Temple Department, and he is the point man for the church’s 137 temples. Walker is a top official in the LDS church as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy and he reports directly to Monson. The Canadian-born hockey fanatic has been a lifelong member of the church. He graduated from Brigham Young University, served a Mormon mission to Japan and spent time in the private sector working in securities and investment banking before being called to serve the church full-time in 2002. Kansas City’s temple is the latest to open. The church has announced it will build 29 temples across five continents. Construction is under way in Paris and Rome, and temples are planned for Peru and South Africa. “We’re building temples where the church is grown and have a concentration of members,” he said.  Outside the new Mormon temple in Kansas City, Missouri. Inside the temple the required first stop is the Recommend Desk. After the dedication, only Mormons who have a recommend card are able to enter and participate in worship. The personalized cards are given by local church leaders to adherents who profess to be living in accordance with church teachings. As he explained the process, Walker reached into his wallet, pushed his Utah driver’s license aside and pulled out his recommend card, which was endorsed by Monson, his bishop. Walker said his credit-card-sized recommend card, like all others, is only good for two years. CNN was invited by church officials to tour the temple with Walker before its dedication. The church denied CNN's request to film inside the space, saying it was against church policy. The LDS church provided still images after the tour, which accurately depicted key parts of the temple. In a rare move, CNN was permitted to film inside the front of the temple at the Recommend Desk, but no farther. "It's not about secret. It's about sacred,” Walker said after the tour, making what the church sees as a key distinction. “We feel that it's a very sacred and special place and therefore it is reserved for those worship functions and those ordinances that take place in the temple. It's not about secret." Walker said the policy is not unlike that for Shinto shrines in Japan, where he served his mission. But it's a thin line between sacred and secret. Public tours of the temple are only available when they are first built or undergo massive renovations. After that, outsiders and Mormons who are not temple recommended are kept out, even from wedding ceremonies. In the sealing room, where eternal weddings take place, Walker points out the altar at the center of the room. The bride and groom kneel facing each other and the officiant stands off to the side. The room is richly decorated with Swarovski crystal chandeliers and massive gilded mirrors on either side of the room, and Walker raves about the design on the white carpet, carefully explaining how local artisans cut the meticulous pattern by hand. Despite the grand size of the building, each room is small: This is the biggest of the three sealing rooms, and its capacity is just 49 people. Guests are welcome at Sunday worship at one of the church’s 18,000 meeting houses, Walker is quick to note. The temple, he observes, “is a sacred, special place that’s unique. There are only 137 of these temples in all the world.” The temple also contains a gleaming baptismal font. Though it’s a point of pride for Mormons, it has been controversial elsewhere. A church ceremony called “proxy baptisms” by Mormons includes posthumous baptisms of Jews, some of whom have protested the practice.  The baptismal font at the newest Mormon temple. However, in Mormon doctrine, baptism is essential for salvation. While converts to the faith are baptized in services at local wards, the weekly meeting place for services open to the public, proxy baptisms take place only in the temple and in private. The proxy baptisms are supposed to be for Mormons’ ancestors who were not of the faith. Walker said the baptism serves as an invitation to accept Mormonism as an avenue into heaven. Explainer: How and why do Mormons baptize the dead? At the temple, Walker took his visitors through the process as it is supposed to work. The font rests on 12 oxen, which he said represent the tribes of Israel. Adherents change into white gowns he jokingly referred to as "jumpsuits," provided by the temple. A male priest leads the proxy into the waist-high water, gives the blessing and the name of the ancestor, then the proxy is lowered into the water, fully immersed, then brought up to the surface. The desk next to the font has a small monitor and a light. That person's job is to record the act for the church's central database. When the temple begins operation, Walker said, this is a scene that will play out “hundreds of times a day.” But some Mormons have used the church’s extensive genealogy database to baptize others who are not Mormon ancestors, such as the murdered Jewish reporter Daniel Pearl and holocaust victims like Anne Frank. It’s a practice that has outraged Jewish leaders. “When people violate the church policy of doing baptisms for those who our leaders have said we’re not going to do that, they’re acting on their own in contradiction of church policy,” he said. “We’re unhappy about that. We love our Jewish friends. We don’t want to offend them or anyone else by our religious practices.” “We’re sorry. We live by our word and when we say we’re going to do something, we’re going to try and do it,” Walker said. He promised disciplinary action. “We’re now tracking those who’ve done this contrary to church policy and we’re going to shut down their access to the church’s database, Family Search, so they can’t do this.” He acknowledges interest in proxy baptisms, and other Mormon practices, has spiked thanks to Mormon Mitt Romney’s run for president. While the church takes no position on party politics nor allows its officials to endorse candidates, Walker can see some good coming out of Romney's run for the White House. “I think it’s perfectly understandable people who are considering him would want to know more about the church he espouses,” he said. “In many ways it may be a good thing that people will want to know more. Maybe some of the old ideas about the church that have persisted in American culture can change.” Watch The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer weekdays at 4pm to 6pm ET and Saturdays at 6pm ET. For the latest from The Situation Room click here. soundoff (4,366 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Want to know what America thinks about the Mormon church? Wait until Mitt Romney is asked the question, "Do you believe Jesus Christ walked in upstate New York in 1825?" When he says he does, America will head for the exits. And he will lose to Obama by the largest landslide in US history.
Now there's a concise assessment.
Thanks for a little honesty.
Hit the nail right on the head.
Zip..that did it! Now everyone,(including the fiscally conservative yet socially secular faction of the GOP focused on improving the economic state of the union) will drop Romney and endorse Santorum because Romney's religion CANNOT possibly be true..Hold to the fact that EVERYTHING in the bible CANNOT be questioned by logic or science..you have effectively used LOGIC to discredit a religion..well done..
Hmmm.... Are Mormons Christians? Well, let's see, the real name of their church (not the nickname give to them in the 1830's by the hater-neighbors in Missouri) is The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints... Hmm... here's a scripture strait from the Book of Mormon that defines their belief (or un-belief) of Christ: 2 Nephi 25:26 : 26 And we atalk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we bprophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our cchildren may know to what source they may look for a dremission of their sins.
Yep, sure sounds like those Mormons are pure evil that don't believe in Jesus Christ at all. HEATHENS, I tell you those Mormons are!!!
People, if you want to know what a Baptist believes, are you going to ask a Catholic or a Catholic Priest? Or would you ask a Baptist or actually go to a Baptist church or an OFFICIAL Baptist website? So, rather than believe these idiot, uneducated, paranoid Mormon haters, why don't you go to the official source and find out for yourselves: http://www.mormon.org
The Mormon church is not a religion. It is a cult. And you can spin it anyway you want. But we are on to you. And the rest of America ain't far behind us.
Seriously? Raised as a Mormon I learned that the Holy Ghost goes to sleep at midnight..You must be posting out of Nevada, California, or Oregon..Maybe Washington but a long shot..let me stir the pot and discredit those that persecute you..Since I don't buy any of it I actually have more credibility with these people than you ever will..
Zip has been paying attention..Zip make sure you declare an all out war on mormonism complete with a plan for decisive action..make sure you post it somewhere..HAHAHAHAH
Why not read Dianetics?
Why not join scientology?
Why not just jump off a cliff and see if I can fly?
Jesus walked on water..Peter did for a little while but lost his faith and began to sink..I bet if you had real faith in JEBUS you could jump off a cliff and fly..after bible study tommorow..and being that its easter..maybe you ought to exercise a little faith and try?
I spent most of my life living around mormons and I"m not sure where people come up with the "non christian" or "cult" idea, all the mormons I've known had a picture of Jesus hanging in their house somewhere, they read the bible, they do believe in Jesus, go to one of their churches on a Sunday and listen, they are always happy to have guests and they will not talk about joining their church if you don't want to.......no the cult part, they have missionaries that go out and talk to people about the religion, so do other religions, they don't force you to drink kool aid like most cults......now I would never vote for Romney, not because he's a mormon, but because he's not in touch with reality and I don't like what his politics stand for....I would vote for Jon Huntsman (also a mormon) in a heartbeat.
To all you Mormons, your religion is just an extension of the Masonic rituals mixed with Christianity. Look it up yourselves. (or I know you won't because you are told to avoid anyone who will keep you from your beliefs) Joseph Smith was a fake, killed by another cult for starting an extension of it.
By the way. Joseph Smith was a Mason. where else would he get the ideas to rip it off.
@Mooseymouse..Much like the Masons, the Mormons are in a very strategic position to control the world..do not underestimate the mormon connection with israel..
He was wise to rip it off..You still don't get it do you..
Make sure you get on the mormon conspiracy bandwagon..you will be easily discredited and eventually fall on a FEMA list..still haven' figured out what's going on yet?
FEMA camp is a myth @chinaman. You don't get it. enjoy putting out your magical crystals and wearing your aluminum foil hats all your life!
I couldn't be more pleased with your response Moose..It's like people are actually beginning to THINK again..couldn't be more pleased...
had 3 freinds that when thier mormon girlfriends left them, took everything they had. this guy came home crying and took a shower when he came out she came back and took his clothes lol. the mormons are sick people, i hope they fall into a cult were they all drink some special punch on 12/12
@Guest..HAHAHA..Mormons are descended from the most intelligent men in the world..DISAGREE?? Consider this.. How intelligent would a man need to be to convince 30 women that it was in their best interest to leave everything they knew and head to the VALLEY..I am a descendant of these men..SO IS MY SISTER AND SHE OWNED YOUR FRIENDS..HAHAHAH
YOU literally have no clue as to what we are both CAPABLE OF and WILLING TO DO..HAHAHA..pray for the day!!
BTW Guest..I left the church but that WILL TO POWER flows through my veins..
I live in Palmyra, NY the birth place of mormonism and I have to have a voice on this. I feel sorry for every person that has ever been taken in by this "religion" . Over the last 50 years or so, the mormons have slowly been "buying" the town of palmyra and it so sad. Around 30-35 years ago they gained enough power to actually change some of the history of Palmyra to show themselves in a better light. The truth of the matter is this: Joseph Smith was the son of a corn farmer who earned the majority of his money by producing "Corn Liquor". Joseph was around 15 when he had his "visions" about the golden tablets but the truth is that it was actually a hullicination from an over dose of a bad batch of corn liquor. He was not a prophet. He was a very narsistic young man who grew up poor and craved money and power. As he gained both and convinced these poor people that the prophet "Moroni" spoke to him, he was also coveting the wives of his followers, and growning into a charasmatic con man. Few people both in and outside of the church know that in the original doctrine the elders are taught that God and Christ were aliens from another planet who through their deeds achieved a high enough status that they were given the planet earth as their kingdom to seed, culture and rule. They have taken the morals, lessons and stories from the bible and warped them to create their book of mormon, which is the primary book used by the church. they may refer to the bible, but it is rarely even read.
You've obviously never attended the Mormon church nor read the Book of Mormon. Mormons study the Bible in their Sunday School classes and very little of the Book of Mormon is related to specific Bible events. But your fear of their legend is entertaining.
I think when Joseph Smith was thinking about what to call his followers, he came up with "Morons," but then decided that he might lose a few of the faithful and added an "m."
Mormons are mostly good people that just got caught up in a cult.
They know not what they do.
How ORIGINAL of you, Ally. Now go back to your paranoid world of hate toward other religions, you bigot. Newsflash: This is America where people may worship however they choose (or not choose to worship).
@Biloxi..You're exactly right! Mormons aren't bad people, they just believe in some weird S#i!, just like Jonah and the Whale or the fact that the earth is EXACTLY six thousand years old..
The word Mormon comes as the reference of the last warrior prophet in the book of Mormom. The book tells the story of the ancient people of the America and their rise and fall and their dealings with God. Its an amazing, interesting sacred book that testifies of Christ work and ministry.
Seriously? Wow, I certainly hit a raw nerve in your whiney little life.
So what happens if a mormon leaves "tracks" in their magical underwear?
Is that UN godly?
Is that person cast into a large fiery pit in Salt Lake City?
Do they use Tide to get it out?
Im juz sayin'...
America is dying to know.
Maybe Mittens ROMNEY can tell us?
Bet that isnt so magical after it ferments awhile.
Im juz sayin'
Its a valid question
No?
Actually we do the same thing you do... We put them in the washing machine....
Speak for yourself.
I make my woman bang rocks on them by the river.
I slap her if she doesnt do it right.
Is that how you treat your 10 wives?
What happens to paranoid bigots who don't believe in the fundamental American God-given right to worship how they please and be tolerant of beliefs that differ from their own? Go back to whatever bigoted hole you crawled out of, pallie.
I just did speak for myself. - Why don't you go educate yourself.... Mormons do not practice polygamy. It was banned over 100 years ago and anyone who does now is ex-communicated.
What must you be rude and show no respect? You can ask about the garments if you want to know, but don't be mean. CIVILITY IS WELCOME!
Jeez, mormons got nooo sense of humor.
Probably a lil too much starch in those magic undies.
Dont put a hex on me for outing your cult.
Thank you.
Im gonna ride some moonbeams to Kolob.
Take a little trip.
Beam me up, Commander Romney!
I always find it interesting why so many have such hatred towards another person's beliefs. More interestingly is when someone who thinks they understand another person's belief system and religion that they can say some weird argument, statement, or awkward remark and suddenly you have proven your point.
Before you go off on your bias, bigotry, or hatred. Take a moment to find out what we really believe: http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/04/he-is-risen-a-prophets-testimony?lang=eng
Just take a moment to see what we really believe before you tell us what you think we believe.
I believe the concept of the "sacred" is one that is difficult for many people in today's society to understand. After all, what topic, person, or principle is considered sacred today? Do not current trends show an increasingly open discussion of previously forbidden subjects?
But, for sincere followers of Christ, sacred things form a core to our beliefs. Life is sacred. That is why we do not kill, and we should avoid violence whenever we can. That is why the family, marriage, and the powers of procreation are so closely guarded by commandments of God. Our bodies are sacred – that is why laws and commandments have been given like the Word of Wisdom as well as standards of dress and personal conduct. We, as people, are sacred, because we are spiritually sons and daughters of God. That is why we must love and serve one another. As a sacred place, the temple is a place where we can go to feel close to God – closer, perhaps, than we can feel in almost any other place on earth. That is why only those who have been recommended are allowed to enter. It is a sacred space, and for those who enter, the feeling of closeness to God comes in part due to the personal commitments to follow Him that they have fulfilled in order to be recommended for temple worship.
What are these ordinances? Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believe that they are ways of tying us together as one great family. We believe that, through these sacred ceremonies, we can be together with our loved ones forever – here on earth and hereafter. It is about bringing people closer. It is about a hope that members of the LDS church have of never having to say goodbye, forever, to the ones that are most important to them.
What is this "magical underwear"? Well, mostly is is just underwear. Most of us wear underwear, and we do so our entire lives. Indeed, it is not truly what it is that matters, but what it represents. The garment simply serves as another reminder of a commitment, much like a wedding ring on a finger reminds a couple of their promises to one another. The garment reminds of commitments made to the Lord, and because it is part of the daily routine, it is a daily reminder of these commitments.
And they are sacred too. And what is sacred is meaningful. I believe that an appreciation of the sacred fosters maturity and respect. And I can testify that respecting these sacred things brings great peace to my heart. They can bring joy and peace to all who seek to know them and follow them. Come and know them better: http://www.lds.org/scriptures
Bet that magical underwear gets a little stinky...
Is that how you can identify mormons?
DONT VOTE ROMNEY!
It is the duty of Christians to call out false prophets, not cower in a corner.
Mormonism is a cult. They try to shove their beliefs on others.
Mitt Romney is one of your high priests.
Probably from Kolob?
False prophets reap huge profits from the old and the sick..Does Pat Robertson speak directly with God on behalf of the rest of us? Aren't prophets gone now that the Christ fulfilled the law?
It is the duty of all Christians to pick their battles, carefully and methodically; and to remember that the evangelical IS a MINORITY and RICK SANTORUM is PROOF!!
No, prophets are not gone.
As long as there are gullible people they always gain a toehold.
False prophets such as Joseph Smith and L. Ron Hubbard spewed false prophesies.
Those that get caught up in their cult don't know any better.
These are the false prophets warned against in Deuteronomy 18:20
As long as there are gullible people, Jimmy Swaggart gains a toehold.
Everyone has the right to opinions, but this article is funny. Many of you who are bashing on this article are very closed minded. You should go visit one of the temples near you. It really isn't that rare. There are many temples being built all over the world every year and people can go look inside and see what the "mormon" Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints do in the special white building. Pretty amazing! God loves everyone no matter race, gender, how much you make. (EVERYONE)
Jake- I served a stateside mission..nobody wants to be a mormon..nobody has the time or the money..nobody gives a ratz azz about the temple..its just a really expensive building that could've fed millions of people..Remember Jake when the temple ceremonies were performed at the top of a mountain? Much cheaper if you ask me...much more humanitarian aid to the world!! Something most PRIESTCRAFT religions are simply incapable of providing AT ALL..Kudos to mormons on unpaid clergy and humanitarian aid..either way..you're still a brainwashed tool that beleieves everything your parents forced you to say at the age of five in testimony meeting..
I cannot imagine you are a Christian, so I wonder why you would be calling the Christians to arms. Christ did not belittle, mock, or hurl words of stone. You do....so you must be a troll, but not a Christian.
Cult. Mormonism is a cult, plain and simple. Fear it.
No kidding, those mormons are out to destroy the world..Make sure that your kids ridicule and harrass the mormon kids on the playground..Make sure you let them know where you stand regarding their ilk..Most of all..make sure you resort to some form of violence to get that point across..best of all..make sure you destroy the religious element in the US by vilifying another religion to the point of absolute exclusion..YOU'RE NEXT B!!
Your FEAR will lead to your own demise..the exclusion of ALL religion in america...
They are out to wheedle their way into the White House.
Aint gonna happen!
Good..neither a mormon nor an evangelical will ever take the white house..I'm with you pal..leave politics to politics..render to Ceasar...
Seriously? You people need to get out more. We "mormons" don't make light of any of the things you do in your lives. Do we judge you for doing the things you do? No, there are so many more religions in the world and yes they may seem weird or different to you but does it effect you or do we mock the religions you are with? If many people would open up their hearts and minds you might actually not have so much hatred and stress in your lives. We have such a short time on this earth you should focus on the things you can change and let the things you cant change go! Or better yet, learn about the things that you dont know. You never know what you will learn!
Hey chinaconquer, after china conquors the world, will i get free mandarin lessons?
and won ton?
Ooooo i do love won ton, yum yum!
You will all get WONTON..hahaha..especially when chinese friendly Jon Huntsman mormon take whitehouse in 2016..hahaha..you all speak chinese then and be slave..hahahah..;.
Danger lurks in mittens romney.
The lds is only a whisker away from control of America.
mormonism is a cult.
Americans must beware. Shout it from the highest mountain.
ANYBODY but MITTEN ROMNEY 2012!
biologixco,
You seem to be very bitter about something. Have you had a bad experience with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints? Your statements have no backing because they are false and distracting. What is your purpose and motivation for that purpose?
It is the duty of Christians to call out false prophets, not cower in a corner.
Mormonism is a cult. They try to shove their beliefs on others.
Mitt Romney is one of your high priests.
Probably from Kolob?
And furthermore china, you cant conquer me easy, im not that kind of boy!
You have to buy me lots of drinks first....
Wow... paranoid much?? You must have smoked bad weed, bro. Or have bought a lot of lies your preacher told you about the Latter-Day Saint religion... Was Kennedy out to convert the U.S. to his Catholicism? You REALLY think Romney running for President is some sort of Mormon church conspiracy? It must suck to live in your paranoid world...
Jesus also asks us to not Judge one another. Also he certainly asks us to love our neighbors....(even if they are Mormon, no?) Sure sounds like you are "hating" the Mormon faith, and I know for a fact God is against hatred towards our "enemies"
I dont hate anyone.
Love thy brother is the mantra of the day.
But love the wolf that stands to eat you and put your soul in bondage?
NEVER!
You claim to be a Christian?? By the way you write things and the way you treat people on these threads do you feel that you are doing it in a manner that Jesus would? If you ever want to warn someone, or even try to convert someone to your own beliefs you need to back it up with your language, actions and viewpoints. You have been vulgar, offensive, and out of line. Jesus never belittled as you do....
Pardon moi...
Read Deuteronomy 18:20
But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
MIttens ROMNEY subscribes to this nonsense.
Just a whisker from the Presidency of the United States.
Americans need to know of this imminent danger!
I'm just curious if anyone has and what they thought.
Welcome to The Hotel California.
You can check in any time you like.
But you can never leave...
My wife and daughter did. Boring building, strange people talking about some of their . . . interesting . . . beliefs. In fairness to them, my wife said they were very polite. My daughter thought they were very boring.
I accidentally wandered into a Mormon temple one day when I went to pick up my daughter who had been playing with a Mormon friend (sweet kid). The girl's parents had taken them to the on-site day care, which was in an auxiliary building, and they gave me very unclear instructions on where she was. So I ended up wandering around in there – boring building, bland people – getting the most bizarre looks. No one said a thing, but I was clearly a very unwelcome outsider who had defiled the temple. I did not find out until afterwards why they were behaving so awkwardly.
I would guess they had to do some ritual to clense the place of the bad mojo of my black non-Mormon soul.
Biologixco, so unhelpful. By the way, do they have internet at the Hotel California, or did you manage to escape?
I have been to a few of the open houses. The buildings are very beautiful and they obviously care a lot about them. I definitely think it is worth going, especially if you are curious about Mormons and what they believe. They are not as scary as you think, nor will the stare at you and judge like the other commenter said. You can find offense any where you look for it.
So unhelpful, but soooo true!
Why not read up on L Ron Hubbard and join a scientology group?
Why not jump off a cliff and see if you can fly?
Keep your soul free and forget about their hokum temples.
It is not possible to enter a mormon temple accidentally. Perhaps you wandered around a church building?? Mormon temples have a desk at the entrance where you have to present a current temple recommend in order to enter.
I'm gonna put on my magic underwear and take a trip with my 10 ugly wives to Kolob
I'm betting you are an ex mormon.
Nope, just a common sense college educated American that values the freedom of their soul.
mormonism is a cult and mittens romney is one of the high priests.
Anyway, too much labouring over your non-sense.
Back to my original statement:
Atheists have mass-murdered more people than anyone, prob even more than the false-Christian Roman Cath cult.
BadKitty–I was talking about real religions not made up ones. Check it out.
And what is your evidence that all the others are wrong? They all have moldy oldy books like yours. They all have just as much support as yours that they are true. Provide evidence of your wild asseertion please.
Oh, do you know what the "reply" buttong does? You might want to use it.
If you read the Book of Mormon you will learn more about God and about how he blesses those who believe in him. It will help your life and it will strengthen your belief in the Bible. All truth supports truth and builds upon it. You will feel the spirit telling you that the Book of Mormon is true if you read it sincerely wanting to know if it is true. The same will happen as you read the Bible. Both are from God. Click here http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng to start reading. If you are sincere and open minded you will increase in faith and in understanding by reading.
" You will feel the spirit telling you that the Book of Mormon is true if you read it sincerely wanting to know if it is true."
You must be joking, reading something and wanting it to be true makes it true? We know where christianity came from, its not a mystery, mormonism is better classified as a cult along with scientology. People want to believe things, it certainly doesn't make them true. Einstein said only truly intelligent people can admit that the vast complexity of the universe is totally beyond us at this point, making things
Forget the book of mormon.
Read the Bible, Deuteronomy 18:20.
God tells you what he thinks of false prophets and their followers...
I am not joking. When I read the words of Christ in the Bible they touch my heart and make me a better person. My life is blessed because of my belief in Jesus Christ. This is not an invented feeling, it is a real feeling because God is real. He created you. The Holy Spirit testifies of the truth of all things that are true and those that will read the Book of Mormon as I invited above will feel the Spirit. Even you, if you are not too prideful to admit it. What could it hurt you to read it, give it a try.
Christ said that by their fruits you shall know them. That is how you tell the false prophets from the true ones. Their fruits are their actions. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I can tell you my actions are much better than they would be if I wasn't (I am not saying this to be judgmental to any one else, I am only saying me personally). I can tell you that I am motivated to do good to others to pray more, to do better at work, to treat my kids with love, to treat my wife like a queen, etc. more because of my involvement with the Church.
I dont doubt your sincerity, but pandering to false prophesy doesn't do one well in Gods eyes.
Mormon people are good folk caught up in a cult. they mean well, but let their religion mislead them.
Its their little fiefdom in Utah and their high priest Mittens Romney that bugs Americans.
Once Romney loses and goes away, you can go back to your 10 wives and magic underwear and we will leave you alone.
I bet that magic underwear gets a not-so-magical smell after wearing it continuously til you die
That's funny but I hope your not serious. We have multiple sets (10+) and wash them in a washing machine and replace them when they get old. Again, I hope you aren't serious, but I never know because of the crazy things some people think of us. We are really quite normal people.
Just like the non-magical underwear does.
Bootyfunk, bcause u have totally ignored all the evidence ive posted that demonstrates he was NOT a christian, eg, the occultology, etc.
Also, he was a politician appealing to the masses, using traditional religious rhetoric, so what?
If u r going to lay out Hitler as a man of truth, i think u had better limit it to these anonymous boards; otherwise, people may begin to think u r a fan of Hitler.
You might be making valid points, but you distract the reader from them when you write "u" instead of "you" and "r" instead of "are". Seriously, it looks completely adolescent, and leads readers to not take your message seriously, even if it is serious.