As I was flipping through the channels on TV tonight, I came across the TV 20 station. This channel provides Christian news, bible readings, and the occasional Mormon bash. Tonight, I saw Doris Hanson talking about polygamy and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She never did once say that the current Church practices polygamy, for we do not. However, it is a known fact that polygamy was practiced when the Church was just starting out and it is a celestial law.
Doris gave some interesting facts, all of which were true; taking from the Journal of Discourses and the History of the Church. It is true, polygamy was a part of the early church.
A young man who is a member of the Church sent her an email. The email said, "...you are a fat headed pig...you will go to Hell for the things you say about God's true Church....I pronounce a curse upon your heads for the evil things you say...you are stupid, retarded people..."
I was appalled.
When the phone lines opened up, I was the first one to call in.
"Hi, Andy. You're on the air with Doris Hanson."
"Yes, I just wanted to give a response to the email that was read earlier in the show. I wanted to apologize for that young man's behavior. How can he say that he is a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ if he makes those hateful remarks? I feel so sad for him and I feel as if he is a complete and inaccurate portrayal of a true follower of Jesus. Too many people say that they follow Jesus Christ, yet they make hateful remarks like he did."
"Well, Andy. You don't need to apologize for the mistakes that he did."
"I know, but I just feel as if--"
"Andy, the only thing we can hope for is that he will find Christ."
"Exactly...and...that's basically all I had to say."
"Well, thank you for that and thanks for calling."
"Thank you," I said, "and have a Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you, too."
There are so many members of the Church of Jesus Christ who say that they walk in the Saviors path, but when they hear some "attacking" the Church, they respond with hate. They respond with sarcasm. They respond in a way completely opposite of how the Lord God would have responded. Too many people feel as if it is their "duty" to defend the Church.
Another caller called in, and he said spitefully, "Have you even read the Book of Mormon?"
"Yes I have."
"Did you pray about it?"
"I did and I--"
"No, I mean did you pray with real intent?"
Who are these people and what right do they have to personally attack someone of another faith? Just because someone has a different opinion than them, they feel as if that other person is attacking them. I had similar experiences while on my mission, with those cocky, hot headed elders who would Bible bash against those of different religions.
Contention is of the Devil.
However, in spite of all that happened, I felt very good after I called. I felt the Spirit of the Lord tell me that what I did was the right thing. Even though I didn't formally bear my testimony of the Church, I did bear a testimony of the Savior. I believed I showed Doris and the other viewers that even though some members of the Church are pompous, there are those who truly want to follow in the Saviors path and accept everyone, no matter what their faith, religion, race, etc.
In conclusion, let's all just...be nice. Let's follow the Savior. Let's be true Christians: those who love the Lord and love their fellowman.
I always thought that i must be a little weird because when I would go to temple open houses and their would be protesters outside I would always look at them and be sad. I wasn't sad for me or the temple. I was sad for those people because such wonderful things are promised inside and if they only knew, if they only understood, they wouldn't be outside yelling.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you wrote this post and that you called in because it makes me sad that Christians can be so hurtful towards others who are different. What happened to turning the other cheek? What happened to, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do"?
I don't believe in just sitting back and doing nothing when there is something we can do. But I don't think that telling a woman that you hate her is going to make her suddenly sit up and night and say, "You know what? That man is right. I'm going to hell. I better join the Church cuz they all seem like nice people."
Katrina and I have been talking recently about this very topic. I have come to loathe Mormon culture. I love the gospel, and I know it's true, but we Mormons do not act very Christian sometimes. I think that's true of the members of any Christian faith.
ReplyDeleteTonight I watched Angels and Demons with my mother-in-law and one quote stuck out to me: "The Church is flawed but only because man is flawed." I love that - that is how I feel about our church.
Latter-day Saints often forget the second half of the eleventh article of faith: "let them worship how, where, or what they may."
Good for you! I recently moved to Utah and am not Mormon, so am still learning about the dominant religion here. In the past few months since we've moved here, I've been appalled and hurt by the way some people have behaved under the guise of religion and "faith." How easy it is for people to use God as excuse for bad behavior. It's reassuring to hear that there are people in Utah who practice the LDS in a kind, honest, understanding way.
ReplyDeleteI am completely on your side, we should act respectfully to everyone. I watch "Polygamy what love it is" and I think it is a great show. I am born a Mormon, so it is interesting to me what others say about the Mormon religion. It makes me research my religion. Doris posts questions that I would never have thought of, she is great. Sometimes she gets that "evil" glint in her eyes when she is saying something negative about the Church. Yes, she is very passionate about "saving" us, and I appreciate that.
ReplyDeleteI applaud anyone who wants to learn more about another faith, in the hope of greater understanding. However, Mormon doctrine is not compatible with centuries held Christian doctrine. In his time, founder Joseph Smith himself did not want to be called a Christian, and set himself apart from other Christian churches. It has only been in recent years that the LDS church has placed that label on themselves. Smith's idea that Jesus was Satan's "spirit brother" is not from the bible. His introduction of polygamy as a way of attaining godhood (or becoming a god by any means) is entirely his design, also nowhere to be found in the bible. I have learned much from a recent posting by J. Warner Wallace and his website pleaseconvinceme.com. Check out what he has to say about Mormonism at http://www.pleaseconvinceme.com/index/mn37359/The_Perception_of_Mormonism
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