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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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If you are interested about the history of the mormon religion, try reading "Children of God" by Vardis Fisher, an ex-mormon phd. The mormon church has tried to bury this book, but I found it very informative and "truthful".
Also, Jon Krakauer wrote "Under the Banner of Heaven"....about the mormons and the present day FLDS ....great book.
Not being a Mormon I read the book and found it full of trash and lies.
Not too interested in sensational reports written by people bitter to their former faith. Why not just read the national inquirer instead? Why would I read this? So I can be convinced that I should hate mormons too and ostracize their faith? I went to medical school with these people. Whatever is is their doing is working. I read a report in the NYT last week that asserted they have a low divorce rate, low crime rate, they give more to charity than the average american and spend more time in serving in their communities, they are generally highly educated. But ya, you're right, we should defend America from these weirdos.
You do realize that "children of god" is historical F I C T I O N, right? Under the Banner of Heaven is really about a different religious group. It is like damning the Episcopals for the Catholics....same origins but different groups. So much lying for the Lord. Thank goodness I am agnostic.
“I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one less god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” —Stephen F Roberts
WOW....must have opened a sore. Neither of these books preaches hate, only the truth. Fisher is a highly regarded author in Idaho, and his book contains facts written in a STORY form to teach history and entertain too. Fisher exposes much of the persecution the mormons went through. Krakauer is famous as a mountaineer and author, and his book "Into thin Air" is excellent.
Maybe we need to burn these books? Get REAL
I dont hate anyone.
Im merely openly questioning how we can allow a CULT to put their HIGH PRIEST MITT ROMNEY into the POTUS position. If the mormons werent so secretive and cultlike, they wouldnt have this problem. Im merely doing God's work. Being a sentinel for our American nation.
God Bless America
What about the Catholics and there secret rituals in the Vatican. There are plenting of places in the Vatican City were Catholics are not aloud.
Re-read you posts objectively, then tell me it's "merely a question." It reads quite derisively. Then ask yourself if the kind of intolerance you are perpetuating would be acceptable if it were directed towards another group. I can't tell you what to do of course, but I'm suggesting that what you perceive as being clever, actually is just hate and intolerance. Let these good people worship how they wish. Mao told his generals "religion is poison" just before they killed hundreds of monks in Tibet. If you don't like Mormons, don't go to their church.
Bioloxco, you clearly do hate. You have repeatedly told untruths and I already posted those when I saw them and called you on it. Yet, you continue. I am AGNOSTIC and I am repulsed by you. You regularly refer to the Mormon church as a cult yet forget that all churches are cults, by definition. Yet, you hatefully post as if it is a uniquely bad thing forgetting that you likely believe in the cult of christ.
“I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one less god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” —Stephen F Roberts
Oh blah blah blah.
Put a little less starch in your magic undies.
Touchy and thin skinned you mormons are.
Better get used to the questions until mittens loses in november.
Prayer changes things
Even a Mormon can find salvation in prayer
Prayer to God
Through the real Jesus Christ
You are a weak pathetic fool. Prayer changes nothing other than waste time.
How about working towards goals instead of wasting time asking for someone to get you there.
PATHETIC! Prayer changes nothing if you have any education!
More lies on top of more lies. Prayer doesn’t not; you are so full of crap and lies. You have NO proof it changes anything! A great example of prayer proven not to work is the Christians in jail because prayer didn't work and their children died. For example: Susan Grady, who relied on prayer to heal her son. Nine-year-old Aaron Grady died and Susan Grady was arrested.
An article in the Journal of Pediatrics examined the deaths of 172 children from families who relied upon faith healing from 1975 to 1995. They concluded that four out of five ill children, who died under the care of faith healers or being left to prayer only, would most likely have survived if they had received medical care.
The statistical studies from the nineteenth century and the three CCU studies on prayer are quite consistent with the fact that humanity is wasting a huge amount of time on a procedure that simply doesn’t work. Nonetheless, faith in prayer is so pervasive and deeply rooted, you can be sure believers will continue to devise future studies in a desperate effort to confirm their beliefs!"
Once again the impostor misusing the name of Jesus proves conclusively that atheism is not healthy for children and other living things.
Strap that dog atop the car.
Planet Kolob aint too far.
Poor old pooch atop the roof.
Maybe THATS why mormons are so aloof
(and probably why they hate my spoof) haha
Sounds like you were never educated
Wouldn't it be great if mitt actually could leave the planet? what a better world it would be without him!
Problem is, that wouldnt undo the hurt Mitt has caused our country. Bragging about firing American workers?
Tar and FEATHER HIM!
Where still waiting for you to wash our underwear
Go buy your own Tide, bubba.
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
Aristotle
Something a mormon knows nothing about....acceptance! Talk about uneducated in-bred fools!
Sounds like you are bigot
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Any religion is for the weak. If you you believe otherwise then you are nuts!
Religious ideals are for people with a lack of understanding...imagine thinking there is a boogie man who controls your destiny. Oh, I just bought a hot dog from Bigfoot too.
@Christians too; Religion is not a cure-all but it takes character and strength to pray to a being that is unseen and to admit one's weaknesses. I'd say that shows strength, not a weakness.
Religion is not a cure-all but it takes character and strength to pray to a being that is unseen and to admit one's weaknesses. I'd say that shows strength, not a weakness.
Or it takes a weakness to actually have to believe there is a dude running the show that unseen...gimme a break, that is not strength, that is the epitome of weakness.
Jesus Christ -
Do the Mormons know you were crucified Friday and rose from the dead today?
Christians too –
And your the arbiter of sound thinking?
Yup, I am!
MONEY is the true Gospel of mormons.
Everything else is but a facade.
Nice underwear too...idiots!
Those magic undies gotta be stinking about now.
Dont they EVER change them>?
America wants to know...
Where waiting for you to wash them
Okay, so you hate Mormons, we get it. Do you hate Jews too? They believe that their guy parted a sea. How about other groups to hate like blacks, gays, etc. Quit sippin on the haterade and chillaxe. It's someones faith that they dedicate their lives too. All the Mormons I know are decent people that do a lot for their community. Try to build up rather than tear down. Sheesh. Find your civility people.
I dont hate anyone. Im merely openly questioning how we can allow a CULT to put their HIGH PRIEST MITT ROMNEY into the POTUS position. If the mormons werent so secretive and cultlike, they wouldnt have this problem. Im merely doing God's work. Being a sentinel for our American nation.
God Bless America
Why does Jehovah need so many elaborate castles?
Especially when we have so many poor, hungry downtrodden people that this money could have helped.
Kinda like scientology. They like those big nice buildings and have secretive practices too.
Why not take a little of that stolen banker money and help out your fellow man?
?
Temples are pretty bland except for a chandelier and the 12 oxen font. Other than that the temples appear like movie theaters. If you want to talk castles to god, talk to catholics with their golden palaces and priceless artwork that could be sold to buy food for the poor. The LDS temple usually uses prints..hardly impressive.
@reality check
I was raised Mormon, been through their temple before dedication, and by the brainwashed power they hold, baptized for the dead. The place is lined and topped with gold.
Satan himself masquerades as a bright shining angel of light:... 2 Cor 11 13-20. The name Moroni comes to mind. A perfect image of Romney the hypocrite. You belong to Christ, don't be fooled people.
Yup. Beware of those false prophets.
God doesnt take kindly to them
Deuteronomy 18:20
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.
biologixco brings up the same old tired scripture references that have been used by others against the church. Following your rationale Jonah wouldn't be considered a prophet either since he prophesied the destruction of Nineveh in 40 days and that didn't happen (Jonah 3:4).
“I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one less god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” —Stephen F Roberts
Money, money, money, money ... Organized religion is very profitable.
Nuf said!
To let everyone know I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter day Saints is the true gospel. The Temples are very sacred they are like portals to heaven given that spirits and even the Father himself and Jesus Christ visit these temples at times. I am a witness of God the Father and Jesus Christ I have seen the God the Father and one time he allowed me to see through his eyes and at various times he looks through my eyes to look upon the wickedness that engulfs the world. In addition, I have seen Jesus Christ also, our loving brother. God is real I can never deny this. To all the World the time is close repent please and seek the truth. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Boy yoy yoy yoy oing!
Im from planet kolob.
Take me to your leader.
Mittens Romney.
But Jesus was Jewish.
Jesus was Jewish...so what?
Nice! A fresh Robot from the Mormon factory...Take me to your Leader! Oh yes the Rich Bum spending your hard earned cash to support his lavish lifestyle in Utah! I grew up Mormon and actually repeated these same words. Not a hater by any means, its just interesting to be on both sides and now hear my same words years later....pretty scary stuff.
@ CHANRUSS , your conviction is refreshing but open your eyes as you progressivley learn more about your religion. Your in for a rude awakining if you are not brain wasked already.
You are a fool. Maybe go to school instead of church.
I cannot believe you actually typed that garbage up and believe it!
Okay but did they let you see the golden tablets that Joseph Smith found in New York that were given to him by the Mormon Angel ???
That's what I want to know
Dang, just pooped my pants.
Better go change my magic undies!
woo hoo
oops! false alarm, i just sat on an easter egg.
magic undies are still pure
wow, your mature.
If the Mormons/LDS are confident in their religion and beliefs, whatever they may, be why are they on this thread defending what they know to be true? The truth does not need defense, it is unshakeable and can not be torn down no matter what the detractors say. One last thing, why are you so adamant about being grouped with Christians? What is the benefit you feel your religion will gain by being considered nearly the same as Catholics or Methodists or Baptists? I am truly curious to know the answers to these questions and am not being disrespectful.
The way I see it, the traditional community says Mormons are not Christian on a 48% basis. It is interesting to me that traditional Christians think that my being Mormon brings my fate to be rejected by Christ. In my Mormon faith, the Mormon Jesus has the ability to save both Mormons and traditional Christians. I prefer to attempt to lean towards being less judgmental in my life. As a Mormon, I am glad to be different, but yet a believer in Christ, a Christ that is powerful enough to save all.
Which I really appreciate. I can't speak for the church, but for myself, I like to get on these articles and comment because there are so many other people who don't show very much respect towards the church, as evidenced but the comment above you.
I totally agree that truth shouldn't need to be defended. However, that is not the viewpoint that everyone has, so it necessitates defense. For example: the family. There have been bills run through congress that has torn the family apart. the truth is that this nation was built on family. The pilgrims were a religious group that came over. Families and people from England and many other nations came here for their chance of a new life in the "New World." now the divorce rate is unimaginably high, there are single mothers/fathers because of our encouragement of infidelity by the media, and children are caught in the middle of it. Then since this is what the children grew up with there is an increased chance of them following the same cycle. Defending the church is like defending the family. I know that the family is ordained of God, I know the church is ordained of God. I've never been happier, but there are many people who just haven't found that out yet. It's because of this that we have to defend the church.
As for your second question. Like the person above you, there are many false ideas that go around. My personal favorite I heard was that we sacrifice virgins in the SLC temple and catapult them in the salt lake. I've heard so many people telling me what I believe that I'm left bewildered. We group ourselves with those who believe in Christ. We share our love of the Bible with them. We have beliefs that build upon theirs. But in order to know that, Come and See.
Well, I can't speak for everyone but I know that I try to defend my faith because people lie about it all the time even if they don't realize it. Every time I talk about Mormons someone has a strange idea about us that isn't true. Sometimes it's small things like what we are allowed to eat/drink/wear but sometimes it's bigger things like our core beliefs. This is why I defend truth although you are right; in the big scheme of things truth will not be destroyed. I think that we also tend to defend our faith because we want people to join it. We want people to come and read the Book of Mormon, we want people to accept Christ, and most of all we want people to be happy. We think that we have a way for people to become happier than they are now and we'll take every chance we get to tell people about that. I know that many people think we just want more numbers but when it comes down to it we really just care about people. At least that's what I have seen in my experience. As for your last question we want to be seen as Christians because we are Christians. I don't think we necessarily want to be lumped in with every other denomination but everything we do is based on Christ. Our church is named The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, we believe that only through His grace we can be saved, we believe in His Atonement, in the past we have died rather than deny Him, and we strive to live for Him and like Him every single day. I think it's hard for us, and I know it's hard for me, to sit and listen to people say that we don't believe in someone we have dedicated our whole entire lives to. I don't like it when people tell me that I don't believe in something I believe in and so I defend my beliefs. I hope this answers your questions. 🙂
And what about Pedophilia?
Ive read its covered up in the mormon church just like those sicko catholic priests.
If someone you love is publicly disparaged, do you really keep silent? I don't and am agnostic. I post here because so many are "lying for their Lord" against the mormons. Now what would Jesus say about bearing false witness?
As a Christian it is not my place to judge others and their beliefs. Love your neighbor as yourself, no matter their religion, race, beliefs, etc... In the end God has the final judgment and HIS judgment is what matters. The Mormons have their faith and I respect that since it is not my place to judge them. All of us have sinned, what makes any of us better than a Mormon?
Happy Easter!
biologixco, How many wives has Newt Gingrich had? How many wives did Ronald Reagan have? How many has Mitt Romney ever had? 1 and he would be EX-COMMUNICATED from his church if he had another. So, please attend some honesty. Lying for your Lord on Easter is pretty repulsive, even for this Agnostic.
We really dont know the true facts. Could be one, could be 10.
But that Ann Romney looks like a whacked out Kolobian.
Mormons are allowed to divorce - and some do in order to get around polygamy laws.
Now you are just flat out lying. Mitt Romney only has and has ever only had one wife. To state otherwise is libel. Ronald Reagan was a serial polygamist. He had more than one wife in his life, despite divorce. Yes, Mormons are permitted to divorce, but they are allowed only one legal wife or a woman is permitted only one husband at any given time. If they have more than one legal wife, you are EX-COMMUNICATED from their church. I find it humorous that so many professed Christians so gladly Bear False Witness against Mormons. I am thankful not to be a party to religion...you are all so unethical, especially generic Christians. I would rather hang with the Mormons.
Face it, all organized religions are based on myth and propaganda, especially Christianity. Mormons however believe in a complete fraud (Joe Smith), without taking a serious look at their illogical beliefs. That's why it's not a good idea to let one of them become the leader of the Free World!
Shout it from the highest Utah mountain.
Moses committed murder. They are all frauds.
BIOLOGICO, If he was a fraud why would a mob have to kill him? And I suggest you read the book Fate of the Persecutors of The Prophet Joseph Smith. Not pleasant what happened to them, so sad.
In the UK, mormon temples are not tax exempt because they are not used for PUBLIC worship. Great idea!
Yup. Their closed system sure looks more like a cult to me.
How bout you?
Governor Boggs of Missouri issued an Extermination Order against the Mormons (look it up.) So, closing the temple to only the most devote Mormons does make sense. I am Agnostic.
Honey, strap the dog on top the spaceship.
Lets all go to planet kolob!
Do you really have nothing else better to do with your life then spend time ripping down people who are trying to do what they think is right? Have you contributed anything to society today?
Sir, I contribute to society by being a sentinel.
Your cult is positioned to inject your HIGH PRIEST MITT ROMNEY into the office of President of the United States.
By warning Americans of your plot along with the far out practices of mormons,
We can put a stop to the plot
Americans are RIGHTFULLY CONCERNED!
Im just doing God's will (smile)
right...
I wonder how many Americans realize that the US Army was going to invade the Utah territory in 1859 and drive the Mormons off the land and into Mexico. Why didn't they? The Civil War was brewing. True story. The Mormons were that close to being driven away. This after they were driven west for 40 years. Another inconvenient fact.
MONEY. They paid off the government.
Leaving us with stinky magical underwear today.
Still stinky after all these years.
@ Biologixco: Oh ok, so earlier when the we driven out of Missouri, Illinios, Ohio, New York same thing right? C'mon dude, don't you have something better to do on Easter than bash the LDS Church? Christ is Risen! Mormons across the world are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sit through an Easter service and then tell me that we are not a religion
biologixco, you clearly have an underwear fetish. It seems to be the only thing that you discuss. You must detest that "Every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ" is a mormon teaching in the temple.
So it has nothing to do with the rumors that were started back east of the Mormons growing an army that was threatening to come and take over the USA. President Buchanan rejected the strongly worded plea for statehood from utah solely on these rumors and dispatched an army instead because of the rumors. The army got there and found nothing. They turned around. Though it is interesting to note that Johnston's army was there a couple years before and found what? NOTHING. The civil war was also 2 years away at this point. What was your point?
Of course the Mountain Meadows massacare is an inconvenient fact for the Mormons - they massacared a wagon train full of non-Mormons and tried to make it look like an Indian attack.
When the US calvary arrived after the Civil war they actually helped protect the Mormons from each other (google the "Mormon wars".) There was a lot of conflict within the group after Bringham Young. My Mormon ancestors were probablly protected by my wife's US Calvary ancestor as they fled the turmoil.
The history of Mormon and non-Mormon interactions back then was sad and bloody on both sides - of course it hardly compares to the Civil war.
Mountain Meadow Massacre isn't an "inconvenient truth" for the mormons. It is very much like the Zimmerman case. The U.S. threatened the Mormons with an action. Governor Boggs of Missouri issued an Extermination Order against the Mormons. Joseph and Hyrum Smith were murdered in jail. The Haun's Mill massacre against mormons, with O <- zero prosecutions, also helped to lead up to that. Was it horrible? Yes, but understandable that people were nervous and set up for such a scenario.
I am still agnostic. But, I bother with that pesky thing called facts.
I love this Joseph Smith character hating on the mormons. You are so pathetic. Consumed with hate and obsessing about my religion. Why don't you pick another hobby like golf-It's much more fun and relaxing! Im sorry you were excommunicated for pedophilia. And for the guy who loves everything about Utah except the Mormons, leave, it's a big world out there!
As a practicing Christian, Tim Tebow finds the Mormon church blasphemous. Might want to get a new user name.
I won't leave...just wait for you losers to die off. You mo's are pathetic and annoying!
I grew up a Catholic and protestant/evangelcal. I have a brother that can't speak to me anymore due to my conversion to Mormonism. I am glad that I have come closer to Christ than ever in my life. It is tough living in a world with so many lustfilled ideas in my face on a daily basis. Anyone true seeker of a better way of life can see from commentary here that most of the posts. from whatever camp, are not the anwer for the building of joy in ones life. I believe the only way for real joy is to follow the Christ the best we can through an honest seeking of knowledge.
As a Mormon, I am happy to quote this from a fellow nonMormon Christain source: Blessed are the pure in heart http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/610-who-are-the-pure-in-heart
God has a special place for false prophets and their followers...
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Deuteronomy 18:20,
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.
Fits Joseph Smith pretty well, huh?
Joseph Smith: "Better that they say I'm a fallen prophet than no prophet at all." Bio, thanks for clarifying that. I think it's wonderful and I don't need to become prophets over others as many in this commentary are doing without even knowing it. In other words, are there many false prophets in this commentary? Let us speak of Christ and the good tidings of the gospel. I love being a Mormon.